European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 16, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday november 16, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page Poindexter convictions overturned Washington apr a Federal appeals court Friday reversed John m. Poindexter a felony convictions in the Iran Contra scandal. Poindexter National Security adviser in the Reagan administration was convicted in april 1990 of conspiracy obstruction of Congress and making false statements. He was sentenced to six months in prison and fined $250. He appealed his conviction on grounds that his trial was tainted by testimony he gave to Congress under a Grant of immunity. A because the Independent counsel has failed to show that Poindexter a immunized testimony was not used against him at trial we reverse the convictions on All counts a the . Court of appeals for the District of Columbia circuit said in a 2-1 opinion. The court said it would be pointless to Send the Case Back for hearings on whether the former National Security advisers five felony convictions could be reinstated As was the Case involving Poindexter a one time aide Oliver North. John m. Poindexter Independent counsel Lawrence Walsh has not shown he would be Able to prove that Poindexter s trial was not tainted by his immunized testimony the court said. Poindexter a attorney Richard acc Klyr a who was at the courthouse when the opinion was released a said he would have no immediate comment but that Poindexte a would be available later in the Day. North won dismissal of All charges against him in september after prosecutors gave up trying to reinstate his three convictions which were set aside in july 1990 by a separate appeals court panel. The appeals court acted As former assistant Secretary of state Guiott Abrams was being sentenced on two misdemeanours stemming from the scandal. Abrams. 43, the first state department official to admit criminal guilt in connection with the arms and Money affair received two years probation and 100 hours of Community service. He could have been sentenced to one year in prison and $100,000 in fines on each of the two counts. Abrams has agreed to cooperate with the continuing investigation by an Independent counsel of the Sale of . Arms to Iran and the diversion of profits to the contras. Abrams appeared before a Federal grand jury last week and Fri agents also served a subpoena on North last week. Quot sources said prosecutors Are seeking testimony that Donald Gregg who was Security adviser to then vice president George Bush has been covering up his knowledge of Iran Contra. Gregg has denied knowing about North a resupply operation to the contras in 1985 and 1986. Poindexter and North were Central figures in the Iran Contra affair which involved secret arms sales to Iran and the diversion of profits to Supply guns to Nicaragua a Contra rebels. Like North. Poindexter testified before Congress under limited immunity from prosecution in 19s7. Poindexter w As convicted of conspiring with North businessman Richard Secord and others to conceal the truth about Iran Contra from Congress. On nov. 21, 1986. Poindexter Tore up a presidential document that ratified a november 1985 Cia assisted shipment of Hawk missiles to Iran and depicted it As an arms for hostages Swap. Hours before he Tore up the document Poindexter told Congress that Reagan had not approved the shipment. He also deleted 5,000 computer messages in his final Days on the Job. Prosecutors said he was living to cover up his lies to Congress but the defense said employees leaving the government were encouraged to purge their computer files different Ferraro opens bid for . Senate new York apr Geraldine Ferraro who made history when she ran for the vice presidency in 1984, announced thursday that she is seeking the democratic nomination to Challenge Republican sen. Alfonse do Amato. _ Ferraro made her announcement at a Brooklyn Junior High school in front of hundreds of students saying she would fight for the Middle class. A a you la find this is a different kind of announcement because i want to be a different kind of senator a she said. A i did no to want to announce today in some Manhattan ballroom or on the Steps of City Hall. That a not what this Campaign is All  her bid for the democratic nomination could be a political comeback for the former congresswoman who was Walter Mondale a running mate seven years ago. But gaining the nomination could be Tough. Other democrats who have said they plan to run Are attorney general Robert Abrams new York City comptroller Elizabeth Holtzman who is also a former congresswoman and rep. Robert Mrazek. The primary will be in september. Do Amato who is in his second term was cleared by the Senate ethics committee in August of influence peddling accusations. The committee did Call him negligent for letting his brother use the senators office on behalf of a defense contractor. Ferraro told the students she returned to the school. Which she had visited last year to make her announcement because a yours is the kind of school that Hopes to produce the kind of Middle class that will be the Backbone of our  a i intend to be a senator who will fight for that Middle class a she said. Ferraro highlighted the importance of a National health care plan tax Breaks Tor the Middle class and increased attention to education. In the stars and stripes 10 year Sago nov. 16,1981 a the chairman of president Reagan a Council of economic advisers said . Unemployment May return to a Post world War i speak of 9 percent before Reagan s policies Start working to produce vigorous economic growth. 20 years ago nov. 16,1971 a George Bush was among More than a score of delegates speaking in a ceremony of Welcome at the United nations after five representatives of the people s Republic of China took their seats in the general Assembly for the first time. 30 years ago nov. 16,1961 a boots Hansen and coot Matthews professional Oil firefighters from Texas were called in to Battle a Torch like flame that illuminated the Sahara for a 40-mile radius menacing France s vast natural Gas project in the desert. 40 year Sago nov. 16,1951 a Henry Jameson president of the grass roots Eisen Hower for president club formed in the general a Hometown announced that sen. Henry Cabot Lodge jr., r-mass., had been named to direct a National Eisen Hower for president Campaign. Uia Unm Mia uni. A ass Anil increased attention to could be a Ferraro told the students she returned to the school education. Ferraro endangered fish could bring change to Northwest Power water policies by the Washington Post those attempts have never quite sue is one third of the hydroelectric put by the Washington Post Washington the National Marine fisheries service on thursday designated the Snake River Sockeye Salmon As an endangered species in a move that May Force the Pacific Northwest to curb its huge appetite for cheap Federal Power and irrigation water. The designation probably comes too late to save the fish As a wild species. Only four of the fish completed this year the 900-mile journey from the Pacific to spawn in an Alpine Lake in Idaho s sawtooth mountains. The Lone female in that group was taken for artificial spawning in a desperate attempt to produce hatchery raised fish with the genetic traits of the wild species. The decision is expected to lend new urgency to longstanding efforts to restore threatened runs of other Salmon species on the Columbia River and its tributaries. Those attempts have never quite succeeded in part because of intense Competition for the columbian a water which has been harnessed since the 1930s by a series of dams. Those dams have turned millions of acres of arid land into some of the worlds most productive farms and Orchards and provided the cheap hydroelectric Power that fuels the Region s aluminium aircraft and other industries. The National Marine fisheries service already has proposed to list two other Snake River Salmon populations the Spring summer and fall Chinook runs As threatened a a move that is Likely to Lead to designations that they Are endangered and must be restored. The decline of the Salmon runs involves a Complex web of factors that include Over harvesting and habitat destruction. But a major reason experts said is the hydroelectric dams constructed beginning in the 1930s. The system produces one third of the hydroelectric Power in the United Stales and provides the Pacific Northwest with clean abundant Power at Only 40 percent of the Cost of electricity in most of the United states. Despite the expenditure of about $1 billion in the last decade to build fish ladders erect screens Over Turbine intakes build hatcheries and truck Salmon around the dams the annual runs of All Salmon species on the Columbia system have declined to about 2.5 million fish from historic Levels of about 16 million per year. Reversing the decline some experts said Means undoing some of that massive engineering project by drawing Down reservoirs behind the dams to let water pass faster downstream to assist juvenile fish in their journey to the Ocean. However utilities industries and the Federal agencies that control the dams Are Likely to fight solutions that rely too heavily on drawing Down the reservoirs. 28 Rice students caught cheating on test Houston apr Twenty eight Rice University students Many of whom May have been athletes were caught in a cheating scandal described As the worst single violation of the schools 69-year-old Honor code. The cheating was detected earlier this year when a suspicious professor changed the questions on a science quiz the Dean of students office said. The students filled in answers that corresponded directly with questions on the earlier version of the quiz. The professor accused them of breaking the Honor code which allows students to take tests and do Homework without surveillance and 28 admitted guilt. No names were released but a reporter at Rice a student newspaper conclude from the composition of the class the i Many of the cheaters were athletes. A a i he great majority of faculty Meir Bers considers this just one More Illust i Tion if the reason Why a University Lik Rice should not be playing in the South West conference a history professor i Homas Haskell a frequent critic of tar University athletics program said