The Nation - News from June 13, 1989

A judge in Atlanta dismissed one of 10 perjury counts against former Rep. Pat Swindall as the defense began its case. U.S. District Judge Richard C. Freeman called the count “just too confusing for a jury trial.” The judge also threw out more than half an hour of testimony by a defense witness, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) who discussed what knowledge that congressmen do and do not have on details of legislation. Swindall is accused of lying to a federal grand jury that was investigating the laundering of illegal drug profits. The former Republican lawmaker negotiated an $850,000 home loan with a businessman who has since been convicted on money laundering charges. The dismissed charge said Swindall lied when he testified that he knew little about a mortgage company created to funnel the money to Swindall.