U.S. Briefs

November 21, 1995

Web posted at: 3:20 p.m. EST

Senator Specter to quit '96 presidential campaign

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republican Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania will announce Wednesday he is dropping out of the presidential race, senior campaign officials said Tuesday.

Specter will not endorse any of the other Republican presidential contenders at this time, but may do so later, CNN has learned.

Hurt by the potential presidential bid of Colin Powell, Specter's campaign suffered from fundraising problems and lack of support for the senator's moderate message, campaign officials acknowledged. With California Governor Pete Wilson already out of the presidential race, Specter was the only Republican contender who favors abortion rights.

In his withdrawal announcement, planned for Philadelphia, Specter is expected to say he is "suspending" his campaign and will leave open the possibility of re-entering the race later.

But sources said this was a technicality to make sure Specter qualifies for federal matching funds to help retire his campaign debt. It's doubtful he would actually will jump back in, his aides say.

Murder trial moved in Polly Klaas killing

SANTA ROSA, California (CNN) -- The father of murder victim Polly Klaas agrees with a decision to move the trial of her accused killer. After a week-long hearing, a judge ruled Monday that the murder trial of Richard Allen Davis will be held in Santa Clara County, about 100 miles from Petaluma, California where Klaas lived. The judge said publicity about the case had "permeated every nook and every cranny," of Sonoma County, where Petaluma is located.

Marc Klaas praised the ruling and said it was time to get on with the trial. The decision followed two-months of jury selection that failed to seat a jury. Davis is charged with kidnapping 12-year-old Polly Klaas from her bedroom in October 1993. Prosecutors allege he strangled her and dumped her body beside a highway.

Reluctant judge gives longer sentences in crack cocaine case

OMAHA, Nebraska (CNN) -- A judge who claims federal sentencing guidelines in crack cocaine cases discriminate against blacks reluctantly gave longer terms Monday to four black men. U.S. District Judge Lyle Strom, who apologized during the resentencing, was obeying orders from a higher court. Two brothers who originally received 20-year terms for crack cocaine distribution were resentenced to at least 30 years each. Two other men originally given 10 years in prison also had their sentences extended. One received 14 years, the other 14 years and seven months.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had sent the case back to Strom, ruling he could not give sentences more lenient than the guidelines. Strom has criticized the guidelines because they call for longer sentences for convictions involving the less expensive crack cocaine than those involving powder cocaine. Strom contends the guidelines are discriminatory because more crack defendants are black. Statistics show nine of 10 crack defendants in Nebraska are black.

Anti-abortion trooper who delayed couple is fired

SEATTLE (CNN) -- A state trooper who delayed a couple's trip to an abortion clinic last year will appeal his firing. Lane Jackstadt was fired Monday for "code-of-ethics and unbecoming-conduct violations" after an internal Washington State Patrol investigation. At his trial last spring on charges of unlawful imprisonment and official misconduct, jurors were unable to reach a verdict in the case.

Jackstadt, who describes himself as an anti-abortion Christian, was accused of detaining Justin Cooper, 20, and Deanna Thomas, 18, for 45 minutes after stopping them for speeding and learning they were headed to an abortion appointment. Prosecutors said Jackstadt changed the speed on Cooper's ticket from 75 to 65 mph after the couple agreed to follow him to a church-run counseling session. Thomas had the abortion the next day. Jackstadt has been on administrative leave with pay for much of the past 16 months.



