Ginsburg Testifies Before Grand Jury in Meese Inquiry

WASHINGTON — Court of Appeals Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg testified today before the federal grand jury investigating conflict-of-interest allegations arising from Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III’s ownership of telephone stock.

Ginsburg, who headed the Justice Department’s anti-trust division in 1985 and 1986, presumably was questioned about Meese’s role in formulating government policy on the break-up of American Telephone & Telegraph Corp. at a time the attorney general owned telephone company stock. Ginsburg was questioned by prosecutors working for independent counsel James C. McKay.

Last year, Ginsburg was nominated to a vacancy on the Supreme Court but withdrew his name from consideration following reports he had once used marijuana and allegations of possible conflict-of-interest arising from his ownership of stock in a company that is one of the largest operators of cable television systems.