The Nation - News from Nov. 29, 1988

Former presidential aide Oliver L. North moved to exclude independent counsel Lawrence E. Walsh from closed court hearings on secret documents the Iran-Contra prosecutor wants to use as evidence. In a brief filing, defense lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell for permission to file a motion to bar Walsh and his associates from attending hearings, set to begin Wednesday, which will consider defense objections to deleting sensitive references from some 350 prosecution exhibits. No reason was given for the request. Defense lawyers, meanwhile, dismissed a prosecution allegation that the former National Security Council aide was threatening to reveal secrets to scuttle charges against him.