(internal notes only)
first posted: y10210
Elliott Abrams, Undue Process: A Story of How Political Differences Are Turned Into Crimes, The Free Press/MacMillan Inc., New York, 1993; cloth, 243 pp.
Michael A. Ledeen, Perilous Statecraft: An Insider's Account of the Iran-Contra Affair, Charles Scribners' Sons, New York, 1988; cloth, 307 pp.
Go to Hugo S. Cunningham home page
last updated: y10210
"Iran-Contra" defendants pardoned by George Bush Senior on 24 December 1992.
defendant name position
remarks
Caspar Weinberger Secretary of Defense
Spoke against arms for hostages deal but did not block it.
Indicted for not cooperating with investigation.
Elliot Abrams Assistant Secretary for Inter-American affairs
plea-bargained two misdemeanors on misleading Congress
Duane ("Dewey") Clarridge Chief of Latin American Division
in Operations Directorate
of the CIACIA liason to Contras
indicted 26 Nov 1991 for covering up Hawk shipment he had facilitated
Alan Fiers chief of Central American Task Force of the CIA, 1983-1986
Plea-bargains 9 July 1991(?) to two misdemeanors withholding info from Congress, and agrees to testify that Fiers had misled Congress on one point
Clair George CIA Director of Operations
convicted 9 Dec (1991? 1992?) on 2 felonies lying to Congress
Robert McFarlane National Security Adviser
plea-bargains 11 March 1988 to 4 misdemeanors of withholding info from Congress
lawyer was able to push for easier treatment due earlier suicide attempt
Some other defendants
defendant name position
remarks
Adm. John Poindexter head of National Security Council
Appeals court threw out (15 Nov 1991) conviction, due taint of "immunized" testimony before Congress
Lt. Col. Oliver North head of National Security Council
"Immunized" testimony before Congress stymied prosecution, especially when McFarlane claimed it had impacted his memory and subpoenaed testimony
Richard Secord arms dealer
plea-bargained 24 Jan 1990 to felony false testimony
Albert Hakim arms dealer
plea-bargained to misdemeanor of trying to "corrupt Oliver North" (Walsh, p. 224) and to give up $7.8 million in funds
William Casey Director of CIA
died of brain cancer, 1987?
Some Sources
Lawrence E. Walsh, Firewall: The Iran-Contra Conspiracy and Cover-up, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 1997; cloth, 544 pages.
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