Meese denounced the prosecutor before resigning from the Reagan administration in August 1988. The Wallach charges were among allegations in an independent counsel's investigation concluding that Meese "probably" violated criminal laws but that no prosecution was warranted. Meese, now a Heritage Foundation fellow and Washington consultant, said through a spokesman that he will make no comment until Wallach's appeals are exhausted. His lawyers have said he will appeal the conviction. Wallach, 55, remained impassive but looked pained when one of his daughters broke into tears in the front row during the judge's lecture. you committed perjury on the witness stand," Owen told Wallach. "Major government contract awards were being made because of your influence at the back stairs of the White House. In a long, blistering lecture, Owen described what he called a "litany" of wrongdoing by Wallach. before you even got the office," Owen said, referring to Wallach's conviction for accepting a $300,000 "advance payment" from Wedtech for services he agreed to render after receiving a high-level Justice Department post under Meese. to help that Bronx machine shop win federal contracts. District Judge Richard Owen, calling Wallach's behavior "sickening," also ordered the San Francisco personal-injury lawyer to forfeit $425,000 that he received from the now-defunct Wedtech Corp. Bob Wallach, whose efforts to trade on his 35-year friendship with former attorney general Edwin Meese III led to his conviction for fraud and racketeering, was sentenced today to six years in prison and fined $250,000. Wallach, London and Chinn will be allowed to remain free while their appeals are being decided, a process that may take 18 months to two years.NEW YORK, OCT. Wallach and the other principals denied that the proposed share constituted bribery in the project, which was never built. The judge referred to a memo indicating that the Israeli Labor Party of then-Prime Minister Shimon Peres would share in the anticipated $700 million in proceeds if Peres approved the pipeline. Owen also told Wallach that “you obviously knew there was a bribe involved” in a proposed $1-billion Iraqi oil pipeline project that he helped promote for Swiss businessman Bruce Rappaport. Meese, who became attorney general in February, 1985, testified that he never showed Wallach any favoritism, despite their 35-year friendship dating from law school days at UC Berkeley. Noting trial testimony that Wallach helped the company obtain a $32-million Army engine contract and more than $140 million in Navy pontoon work, Owen declared: “Major government decisions were being made because of your activities on the backstairs of the White House.”ĭuring much of Wallach’s lobbying, Meese was White House counselor. He noted that Wallach “covered up” a $125,000 payment for lobbying Meese by attributing it to fictitious legal work for Wedtech. “There is a phrase, ‘Too much success can bring failure.’ I am the epitome of that and I am paying for that.”īut Owen responded with a stern lecture, citing Wallach’s “litany” of offenses, including receiving $300,000 from Wedtech after telling company officials that his close friend, Meese, planned to name him to a high post in the Justice Department. “Do I feel remorse? Of course I feel remorse,” Wallach said, noting the impact of his conviction on his wife and three daughters. Wallach said that he had built a successful law practice that provides free representation for many low-income clients and does legal work for civic causes, such as human rights and conservation issues. Naftalis, pleaded for leniency from Owen. Wallach, who was convicted last August, and his defense attorney, Gary P. They are accused of having extorted $185,000 in payoffs from Wedtech. Robert Garcia (D-N.Y.) and his wife, Jane Lee. As Owen imposed the three sentences, a jury in the same courthouse deliberated the fate of the last two defendants in the scandal, Rep.
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