(21 Nov 1996) English/Nat
A lawyer for C-I-A officer Harold Nicholson says his client will plead innocent to charges of selling U-S secrets to Russia.
Attorney Jonathan Shapiro says he will fight charges that Nicholson - a C-I-A veteran of 16 years - sold sensitive information to Russian agents.
Prosecutors for the U-S government say they have evidence, including failed lie detector tests, linking Nicholson to counter-spy activities.
Accused spy Harold Nicholson was in court again Wednesday with his lawyer, Jonathan Shapiro, who is looking for more help to defend his client against charges of selling U-S secrets.
U-S officials say they have a solid case against Nicholson. But his court-appointed lawyer says he will defend his client as an innocent man.
SOUNDBITE:
"The defendant's not called upon to enter a plea on Monday. But if he ever is, it's going to be not guilty, and we're looking forward to fighting this case and fighting it hard. (Q Do you think you have a chance of turning the government on this - winning the case?) Sure."
SUPER CAPTION: Jonathan Shapiro, lawyer for Harold Nicholson
Shapiro says Nicholson is coping well with the prospect of a court battle against his government accusers.
SOUNDBITE:
"The client is holding up well. He's obviously distressed at the situation his children are in. But he's dealing with it."
SUPER CAPTION: Jonathan Shapiro, lawyer for Harold Nicholson
The F-B-I says 46-year old Nicholson has failed three lie detector tests - the first in October 1995 when he was asked about unauthorised contacts with foreign spies.
They also say he sought, without authorisation, classified information about Russia's Chechnya region.
But Shapiro says recordings of those tests and the testimony of an unnamed C-I-A colleague would refute F-B-I allegations.
Shapiro is also asking the court to pay for members of Nicholson's family to travel from Oregon to testify in his bid for bail next Monday.
U-S government lawyers plan to call at least one witness Monday in their case against Nicholson.
They will then seek a grand jury hearing and an indictment in the latest American spy case.
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