Iran-Contra: the Walsh final report
Verified: Documented in primary records or confirmed by reputable inquiry/reporting.
In October and November 1986 two secret US operations were exposed: arms sales to Iran and support for the Contras in Nicaragua. Independent Counsel Lawrence Walsh’s final report says the operations were carried out with the knowledge of, among others, President Reagan, Vice President Bush, Secretary Shultz, Defense Secretary Weinberger and CIA Director Casey. Bush pardoned Weinberger and others on 24 December 1992.
Documented
The Executive Summary says Casey’s support “encouraged some CIA officials to go beyond legal restrictions”, and that Bush’s pardon of Weinberger pre-empted a trial. It also records pardons for Clarridge, George and Fiers.
Claimed, disputed or not established
The report says the investigation “did not develop evidence that proved that Vice President Bush violated any criminal statute”, though he was “fully aware of the Iran arms sales”. Those are the Independent Counsel’s conclusions, stated as such.
Sources (opened in a new tab)
- Walsh Iran/Contra Report: Executive Summary (FAS copy) ↗https://irp.fas.org/offdocs/walsh/execsum.htm
Connected
- Section: United States, also Latin America
- Agencies: CIA
- Vault documents: Final Report of the Independent Counsel for Iran/Contra Matters ↗
- Case board · Timeline (1993) · Document vault