Delay Sought in Producing Reagan’s Records

WASHINGTON —  The Justice Department asked a federal judge Monday to grant a two-week delay before compelling former President Ronald Reagan to turn over diaries and other personal records that his former national security adviser says he needs to defend himself against charges in the Iran-Contra scandal.

U.S. District Judge Harold H. Greene has taken no action on the department’s request. Reagan had been subpoenaed by John M. Poindexter’s attorneys to produce the records by Wednesday.

The department’s request was filed on behalf of the national archivist, who has custody of many of the documents. But Theodore B. Olson, a Washington attorney retained by Reagan, filed the same request Monday on behalf of the former President.

“We need time to review the documents because there are up to 100,000 of them,” Dan Eramian, a department spokesman, said. The precise nature of the records being sought by Poindexter has been kept under seal by Greene.

Poindexter, whose trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 22, was deputy national security adviser and then national security adviser when the Iran-Contra events occurred. He is charged with conspiracy, obstruction of congressional inquiries and making false statements to Congress.

Eramian said that the department reserves the right to challenge the subpoena in court. Such a move probably would delay Poindexter’s trial, officials said.

Meanwhile, sources said Monday night that arms dealer Albert A. Hakim is expected to enter a guilty plea in federal court today for his role in the Iran-Contra affair, the Associated Press reported.

Hakim, an Iranian-born U.S. citizen who helped broker the arms-for-hostages deals with his native country, was scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The sources stressed that the deal could fall through at the last minute. Details could not be obtained.

In addition to conspiracy, theft and wire fraud counts, which have already been dismissed against his co-defendants, Hakim faces two counts of offering an illegal gratuity to former White House aide Oliver L. North.

Hakim is accused of conspiring with his former business partner, Richard V. Secord, to set up a $200,000 fund for North’s family.