Reagan Requests ‘Limited Immunity’ for Silent Aides : Panel Cool to Plan to Get Poindexter, North to Talk

WASHINGTON — President Reagan today urged congressional committees investigating the Iran- contra scandal to grant “limited immunity” to former National Security Council aides John M. Poindexter and Oliver L. North to obtain their testimony.

But the chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said no such grant is likely soon.

And legal experts said granting of limited immunity would hamper the special prosecutor’s investigation of the case. “The President has jumped the gun,” said Harvard Law professor Lawrence Tribe. “It seems to me to be premature. . . . To grant immunity is to make prosecution extraordinarily difficult.”

“There is an urgent need for full disclosure of all facts surrounding the Iran controversy,” said White House spokesman Larry Speakes in announcing the President’s action.

But the vice chairman of the panel, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said, “Our committee is not about to vote for granting immunity.”

The chairman, Sen. Dave Durenberger (R-Minn.), also indicated strongly that such action is not likely.

‘They Need to Come Forward’

“There are two people who hold the key. They need to come forward on their own. This Congress is not going to make a decision on an issue like immunity.”

Durenberger said the panel has had “spirited discussions” about granting immunity to the two witnesses and will take up the matter again when it receives Reagan’s formal request that the ex-aides be given immunity.

The senators spoke after White House Chief of Staff Donald T. Regan ended more than four hours of closed testimony to the committee.

Speaking separately with reporters, Regan said, “I was under oath testifying and I testified that I did not know of any diversion of funds from the proceeds of the sales of arms to Iran to the contras.”

He also said neither Poindexter nor North had that authority.

“I can tell you that Col. North or nobody else was ever authorized to divert funds to the contras or anyone else,” Regan said.

‘Appreciate It Very Much’

Durenberger said the committee also asked Regan whether any of the Iran arms profits had been used against opponents of the Administration’s Central American policy. But Durenberger did not say how Regan responded.

Leahy said of Regan’s testimony: “This really was cooperation and I, for one, appreciate it very much.”

Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) said Regan “added a little bit” to what had been known about the Iran-contra deal.

But Sen. Dennis DeConcini (D-Ariz.) said Regan “told an unbelievable story in a very believable manner. It’s the story you’ve read about, and he says he knew nothing about it. I find that unbelievable.”

Both North and Poindexter last week invoked their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination and refused to testify.

A grant of “use immunity” would require them to testify before a congressional committee without resort to the Fifth Amendment but would also bar prosecutors from using that testimony against them in any later criminal proceeding.

‘Not Amnesty or Clemency’

Such a grant would require prosecutors to build any case from information gathered independently or from another witness’s testimony, but Reagan claimed that it would “not interfere with the duties and responsibilities of the independent counsel,” who has not yet been named.

Speakes, in a hastily called, nationally televised briefing for reporters, read a statement from Reagan declaring that limited immunity is “not amnesty or clemency” and “does not prevent those responsible for any wrongdoing from being brought to justice.”

Speakes said Reagan has not ruled out using his power to grant either executive clemency or a pardon but plans no such action.