LOS ANGELES -- The man accused of killing the mistress of presidential confidant Alfred Bloomingdale saw videotapes of government officials at sex parties and will reveal the names if he testifies, a defense attorney said.
'If our client testifies, he will say that he saw one month prior to Vicki Morgan's death, videotapes depicting some unusual sexual activity,' Charles Mathews, attorney for Marvin Pancoast, said in court Thursday.
'Those tapes have never been found.'
Outside court, Mathews said Pancoast, who has a history of mental problems, revealed 'high government officials' shown on the videotape visited Miss Morgan in the condominium where she was killed 'about a month before her death.'
Pancoast allegedly told who were on the tape, but his lawyer said the names will be disclosed only if their client testifies at his murder trial.
Defense attorneys have contended the videotapes provided a motive for someone other than Pancoast to kill Miss Morgan, Bloomingdale's longtime mistress. The elderly department store heir and member of President Reagan's 'kitchen cabinet' died in August 1982 of cancer.
Pancoast, 34, pleaded innocent and innocent by reason of insanity to charges he beat the glamorous 30-year-old model to death with a baseball bat July 7 in the condominium they shared.
It recently was disclosed the defense subpoenaed FBI and police for any records of videotapes showing attorney general nominee Edwin Meese or other government officials at sex parties with Miss Morgan. Meese's attorneydenounced the request as 'outrageous.'
Attorney Robert K. Steinberg unleashed a national furor last summer when he told reporters he saw three videotapes of government officials at sex parties with Miss Morgan. He first claimed to have the tapes, then reported them stolen.
Pancoast's attorney was in court for a pretrial hearing before Superior Judge David Horowitz to ask him to enforce a subpoena of the man who was helping Miss Morgan write her autobiography, 'Alfred's Mistress.'
Writer Gordon Basichis is contesting the subpoena that requests he turn over any video and audio tapes, his book contract with Miss Morgan and an outline of the book.
Police have testified Pancoast walked into a police station the night of the murder and admitted killing Miss Morgan. That taped confession and other statements Pancoast made are being challenged by defense attorneys.
