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LA TT I= NS, EN ; Eres50 (Rev. 11-11-75) (Mount Clipping in Space Below) U.S. probe. of Agnew’s conduct set Inquiry is ordered after suit alleges ‘probation breach 4 By ROBERT A, ERLANDSON ’ A federal judge yesterday ordered a Justice Department investigation of alle- gations by a New York lawyer that former _ Vice President Spiro T. Agnew has violat- ed his probation. ; However, Judge Roszel C. Thomsen re- jeeted-the- lawyer's. request_that. Agnews. probation, which expires tomorrow, be re- voked immediately. Judge Thomsen noted that even though ‘the probation will expire, Agnew could have received a maximum of five years’ probation and, therefore, the court retains jurisdiction in the case for two more ears. cece The allegations are included in a §2 million civil suit brought by Sam Polur, a lawyer from New York who now lives in Miami. : . They allege generally that Agnew vio- Jated probation through retention of ex- pensive gifts from Arab leaders until sev- eral months after his resignation, contin- ued dealings with the Arabs as an unregis- tered foreign agent and use of Education for Democracy, a foundation he now heads, as a pro-Arab, anti-Israeli propa- ganda instrument. “Judge Thomsen’s order for the investi- gation, or at least a review of the file if the Justice Department has already checked Agnew’s activities, will not affect the expiration tomorrow of Agnew’s three years’ unsupervised probation. Judge Walter E. Hoffman placed Ag- new on the probation and fined him $16,- 600 October 10, 1973, the day Agnew re- signed as Vicé President and was convict- ed.of income tax evasion on a no-contest plea. S nevconies ‘COPY SENT TO BUREAU ONO 28 = | Agnew was not in court yesterday, He ‘was represented by W. Lee Harrison, a Towson lawyer, who told Judge Thomsen : that Agnew was in New York “on a busi- ness trip.” ‘- t Judge Thomsen declared that any alle- | gations of probation violation are a crimi- nal matter that bear no connection with | Mr. Polur’s civil suit and so must be consi- dered separately. The government was represented by Paul E. Kramer, deputy United States at- torney for Maryland, who said the govern- ment assumed “no position” with regard to Mr. Polur’s allegations in the-civil suit. Mr. Kramer was accompanied by Patrick .Glyn and Larry Gregg, of the Justice De- ‘partment’s criminal division. ' Mr. Harrison asked that the results of ‘the Justice Department investigation be sealed “to prevent exploitation,” including through the press, of Agnew’s personal life and business activities. Judge Thomsen noted that, if the Jus- tice Department finds merit to the allega- tions and re some action, it will have to be made public, and that if the de- partrnent“conclides’ there is no” actio re= quired, that will close the matter. He directed Mr. Kramer and the Jus- tice Department to make the report to him personally and not to make anything public until he has seen the report and dis- , cussed it with Mr. Harrison and tlie gov- ernment lawyers. * Mr. Polur objected to what he called a ' “veil of secrecy” being drawn over the i matter, arguing that it was just such se- | crecy that led to the Watergate scandal : and to other government abuses of recent years. He asserted that as a fop American of- i ficial, Agnew was privy to national securi- ‘ ty information and other secret informa- tion. Mr. Polur said, “Is he selling secrets? J don’t know,” and suggested that Agnew ‘ should be in court, under oath, “to explain ‘what he’s doing, whether he’s getting Mr. Polur said that if Agnew “is receiv- ing money from these Arab countries he should tell the people of the United States.’ . . . ’ “Tf Agnew were similarly involved with the Soviet Union or China, the lawyer said, -there would be a national outcry, and he suggested that the former Vice Presi- dent’s yelations with Arab countries should not be considered differently. . . (Indicate page, name of newspaper, city and state.) —— SUN PAPER —— PAGE Bel —— BALTIMORE, MD. Date: 10/9/76 Edition: MORNING FINAL Author: ERLANDSON Editor: Title: Character: or ; Classification: 4AE- 3 Submitting Office: BA (__] Being Investigated | 58-41923,-39 | HDENE en an a / FILE AZ, po - # POI Pb |