Reagan pardons F.B.I. men

Press, 18 April 1981, Page 9

Reagan pardons F.B.I. men

NZPA Washington' President Ronald Reagan has granted full and unconditional pardons to two former Federal Bureau of-Investiga-tion officials convicted of authorising unlawful investigtive practices during the Nixon Administration.

The two, Mark Felt and Edward Miller, were appealing against their convictions of violating the civil rights of friends and relatives of members of the Weather Underground, a Leftist, occasionally violent offshoot of the anti-Vietnam War move,ment of the 19605. Mr Felt had been fined $5OOO and Mr Miller $3500 after their conviction last December. .

Both men admitted approving break-ins of private residences, but Miller's lawyer said the practice was long-established and would be possible under current guidelines with the approval of the bureau’s director or the Attorney-General. “During their long

careers,” Mr Reagan said, “the two" served the F. 8.1. and the nation with ' great distinction.”

“To punish them further — after three years of criminal prosecution proceedings — would 7 not serve the ends of justice,” he said. The President said their convictions “grew out of their good-faith belief that their actions were, necessary to preserve the security interests of our country.” Mr Felt was principal deputy to the F. 8.1. director J. Edgar Hoover - and Mr Miller headed the F. 8.1. intelligence division.