Nofziger, Lyn / Meese, Edwin - Investigations

The series regarding the investigations of Franklyn Nofziger and Edwin Meese within the Office of the Counsel to the President: Investigations collection is currently being arranged by our archival staff. For any assistance in locating the noted material on this topic guide, please check with an Archivist. Arrangement notations are included with some of the folders on this inventory.

Scope Note

On February 2, 1987, Independent Counsel James C. McKay was appointed to investigate allegations that Franklyn (Lyn) Nofziger had violated the Ethics in Government Act by lobbying former Administration colleagues on behalf of various clients before legally allowed. This Act forbids former White House employees from lobbying members of the administration until a full year has elapsed since their departure. One of the clients named in the Independent Counsel appointment was the Wedtech Corporation, a New York City-based firm formerly known as Welbilt Electronic Die Corporation.

Prior to the appointment of the Independent Counsel, United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District, New York (Rudy Guiliani) had an ongoing criminal investigation of the Wedtech/Welbilt Corporation. 

In the continuing course of the investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Independent Counsel, ethical and legal issues were raised about the conduct of Attorney General Edwin Meese III. Investigators focused on E. Robert Wallach, a personal friend of Attorney General Edwin Meese III, and his relationship to Wedtech. Wallach was paid over $1.5 million by Wedtech for what he claimed were legal fees and advice. Since no documentation of this legal advice could be found, the U.S. Attorney’s office viewed it as influence peddling and bribes for access to Mr Meese’s “eyes and ears.” 

Subsequently, in May 1987, the Independent Counsel’s investigation was broadened to include allegations of Meese’s possible illegal involvement with Wedtech via Wallach. The Independent Counsel went on to investigate several additional allegations against Meese, including: a proposed Iraq-to-Jordan oil pipeline (a Wallach specific request); possible conflicts of interest in his involvement with telecommunications policy while owning telephone (Baby Bells) company stock; and issues regarding the funding of Mrs. Meese’s job, and the Meeses’ tax returns.

In July 1987, a grand jury indicted Nofziger and his associate Mark Bragg on conflict-of-interest charges. Nofziger was convicted in February 1988 while Bragg was acquitted. A federal appeals court, focusing on the use of the word “knowingly” in the Ethics statute, reversed the conviction of Nofziger in 1989.

On two occasions, McKay decided not to indict Meese. In November 1987, he reported that there would be no criminal charges regarding the Wedtech Corporation and in April 1988 he reported there would be no indictment regarding the Aqaba pipeline project and the “Baby Bells.”