"North was part of the twin schemes to sell weapons to Iran and then use proceeds to fund anti-communist rebels, known as the Contras, in Nicaragua. Hall, North's secretary, admitted to shredding damning documents related to the controversy. She snuck documents that possibly implicated North out of the White House complex by stuffing them in her clothing and shoes, and the two later overfed a paper shredder to the point of it jamming."
"After the intertwining scandals were revealed in 1986, those involved defended their actions as necessary to secure the release of American hostages in the Middle East and said they facilitated Reagan's anti-communist policy goals in Central and South America. But the sales ran afoul of legislation that limited US government assistance to the Contras, an arms embargo against Iran, and Reagan's previous assurances that the US would not negotiate with terrorists. North was convicted in 1989 on three felony charges; the convictions were vacated shortly after. Hall was granted immunity from prosecution."
Oliver North, 81, married his former secretary Fawn Hall, 65, on Aug. 27 in Virginia. North quoted "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" when reached by phone. North was a National Security Council staffer who participated in schemes to sell weapons to Iran and use proceeds to fund the Contras in Nicaragua. Hall admitted to shredding and smuggling documents out of the White House, hiding papers in clothing and shoes, and overfeeding a shredder until it jammed. The 1986 revelations prompted defenses that actions secured American hostage releases and advanced Reagan's anti-communist aims, but the sales violated U.S. laws, an arms embargo against Iran, and Reagan's pledge not to negotiate with terrorists. North was convicted in 1989 on three felony charges; those convictions were vacated shortly after. Hall received immunity. Michael Isikoff for SpyTalk first reported the marriage. North later mounted an unsuccessful U.S. Senate bid in Virginia in 1994.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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