Michael Walker was arrested two top-secret access while they were on weeks ago while on active duty active duty." said a statement from aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ni- the office of Michael I. Burch, chief mitz. Pentagon spokesman. His father, John Anthony Walker. "Of the three with top-secret Jr., the alleged leader of the spy ring, clearance, it appears that only Whit- served almost 21 years In the Navy worth had been the subject of a re- before retiring in 1976. John Walk- investigation. with the first conduct- er's brother, Arthur, served 20 years ed In 1969 followed by one in 1978." before retiring in 1973. Mr. Whit- worth, who is not related to the See SECURITY, 14A, Col. 6 Walkers, served 21 years on active duty before retiring in 1983. The FBI, when it arrested Mr. Whitworth earlier this week, charged he had been providing classified in- formation to the Soviets through John Walker, a long-time friend. Both Mr. Whitworth and John Walker worked in sensitive radio communications posts before their retirement. Arthur Walker, who re- tired as a Secret clearance while on active duty. He held a top secret clearance at the time of his arrest be- cause he was working for a Virginia ASSOCIATED PRESS defense contractor. JERRY A. WHITWORTH Pentagon and Navy officials were Held "top secret" clerarance unable to say yesterday when the four men first received their clear- ances. In court papers filed yesterday in Alleged spy U.S. District Court in Baltimore, John Walker's federal public defend- Mid twice for er argued that he should be allowed to continue representing Mr. Walker, security rating despite the retired warrant officer's $239,253 in assets. Fred Warren Bennett, the federal WASHINGTON1An — The Pen- tagon disclosed yesterday that Jerry public defender for Maryland. con- A. Whitworth was cleared twice for tended that a tax lien filed against dur- Mr. Walker by the Internal Revenue his "fig secret" security rating Service Tuesday in Norfolk Circuit ing the timi en he Is charged with Court makes it "extremely difficult, tf spying for the Soviet Union. SECURITY, from 1A not impossible" for his client to use Mr. Whitworth, 45. a retired Navy any of his assets to hire a private at- ornan, is one of four men charged The fourth man charged. Michael torney. wt part of a ring that passed The IRS contends that Mr. Walk-, secrets to the Soviets over a 20-year • Lance Walker, joined the Navy In December, 1982. but he had not held er owes $252,487.66 in back federal period. taxes since 1979. - When Mr. Whitworth was arrest- a security clearance long enough to be subjected to re-investigation. Because of that lien, and other ed in California Monday, the govern- liens for unpaid city taxes, Mr. Walk- ment said in its criminal complaint er has a negative net worth of at that he started spying "In or about least 879,702.66 and has become 1965" and the last known incident "indigent," Mr. Bennett argued in a of spying occurred in October. 1983. memorandum to Judge Alexander when he retired from the Navy. Harvey ll. That would mean that he would At Mr. Walker's arraignment have undergone two "re-investiga- Tuesday. Mr. Bennett had set Mr. tions" to keep his security clearances Walker's net worth at 8174,785 and at the time he was engaged in espio-• urged the judge to order Mr. Walker nage. to repay the government for his legal The Pentagon also acknowledged services at a specific rate. Yesterday. that two of the other three men ar- he asked the court to continue the rested In the growing scandal had never been subjected to the security order now in effect, which provides for possible reimbursement. reviews, even though such probes real estate, an are supposed to be conducted every Mr. Walker owns five years for people with clearances. airplane and two boats and operates "John Walker, Arthur Walker two businesses in Norfolk. - Judge Harvey did not rule on Mr. and Jerry Whitworth all possessed Bennett's request. Sun reporter Karen E. Warm- kessel contributed to this article.