11.   But the plea hearing has been postponed until Wednesday.

12.   Democrats have not requested a delay, but the hearings may be postponed until Friday because of unrelated matters, said House Ways and Means press aide Ari Fleishman.

13.   He could have postponed the hearing but might have had to wait another year had he done so.

14.   He has twice postponed hearings on the matter after consulting with Democrats, who fear the current probe of the Speaker would color any attempt to overhaul the system.

15.   If they keep postponing his hearing, perhaps Congress will decide the CIA is a Cold War relic and simply abolish it.

16.   Instead, the Wednesday hearing was postponed half an hour before it was to begin, Jett said.

17.   Judge Sam Ohta postponed hearings for the five other players.

18.   Judge Uviller postponed hearings for a day to allow the lawyers to confer at length with Leary.

19.   Monday, however, Judge Curtis Rappe of Los Angeles Superior Court postponed the hearing after meeting privately with lawyers from both sides.