Swiss Denies Pipeline Payoff

WASHINGTON —  A Swiss businessman today denied that he had paid off Israeli officials in exchange for their support of a proposed Iraqi pipeline project that is now the focus of a criminal investigation involving Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III.

A statement issued in Geneva by the office of wealthy oilman Bruce Rappaport disclaimed “any knowledge of or participation in any unlawful or improper activity regarding the pipeline project.” The statement said Rappaport was commenting because of “false or otherwise misleading statements appearing in various publications suggesting that he had been instrumental in arranging payments to be made to one or more Israeli government officials or political parties in exchange for official Israeli government support of the project.”