News In Brief

Tampering inquiry begun by FBI in De Lorean case

The FBI launched a jury-tampering probe in John Z. De Lorean's drug trial after seven jurors said they received copies of a congressional report condemning FBI ''sting'' operations such as the one that led to the automaker's arrest.

US District Judge Robert Takasugi warned the rest of the jurors and alternates to watch their Wednesday mail for the same document. He instructed them to bring it to him unopened and to ''avoid overhandling the documents.''

''As a lawyer and an ex-FBI agent, it seems to me somebody is trying to interfere with the trial,'' said Rep. Don Edwards (D) of California, whose name was on the envelopes mailed to jurors.