DECONCINI DEFENDS ACTION IN S&L AFFAIR

Sen. Dennis DeConcini, singled out by bank regulators for improper actions to benefit indicted former savings and loan operator Charles Keating Jr., forcefully defended his conduct in a Senate ethics committee hearing. Senator DeConcini (D) of Arizona told the ethics committee Wednesday he did not believe Mr. Keating's $81,000 in political contributions were intended to ``procure'' his services in blunting an investigation of Keating's Lincoln Savings and Loan Association - even if Keating himself believed the contributions were intended to buy political influence.

``I am very satisfied that I violated no rules, no spirit of any rules,'' DeConcini said.

DeConcini has maintained all actions involving Keating were legitimate forms of constituent service for an important home-state businessman.

DeConcini is the last of five accused senators called to testify before the committee.