Iran-Contra Hearings - Testimony of Colonel Oliver North.
Iran-Contra Hearings - Testimony of Colonel Oliver North.
Iran-Contra Hearings - Testimony of Colonel Oliver North. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida) questions North.
Iran-Contra Hearings - Testimony of Colonel Oliver North.
Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Now you worked with Otto Reich and Jonathan Miller. They were director and deputy director of the Latin American public diplomacy program which reported to the special planning group on which you sat. Is that correct? Colonel Oliver North. They reported obviously to the Secretary of State or some superior within the State Department, but the group did work with the restricted inter-agency group. That is correct, Sir. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Well I seem to remember somewhere that Walt Raymond chaired that and the decision was made to have the LAPD stuck in the State Department, but they really reported to the White House or the NSC. But that s alright the record will straighten that out.
Iran-Contra Hearings - Testimony of Colonel Oliver North.
Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Did you know that Frank Gomez and Rich Miller, operating as IBC, had been awarded U.S. government three contracts for about $400,0000? Colonel Oliver North. It was my, again I didn t know that it was three. I did know that they had a a contract or contracts with the State Department and that there was at least a classified provision of that activity. Yes Sir. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Did you recommend the awarding of those contracts? Colonel Oliver North. I don t recall that I recommended it. I know that at one point, either Mr. Miller or Mr. Gomez or both acknowledged to me that the contracts were being held up. And that they hadn t been paid for the services they provided for the State Department. I may at some point in their inquiry either Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). expedited the payments? Colonel Oliver North. Yes Sir.
Iran-Contra Hearings - Testimony of Colonel Oliver North.
Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Did you at anytime indicate to Spitz Channell and Dan Conrad that the funds they raised for the Contras should be turned over to Frank Gomez and Rich Miller, operating as IBC? Colonel Oliver North. No. I did ask Mr. Miller or Mr. Gomez, I believe it was Mr. Miller, to establish an off-shore account that could be used to prosecute the goals we discussed here. And at some point I am sure that I told Mr. Channell that certain money that he raised, which were to go to the direct supply of the Nicaraguan resistance, were to go to the off-shore account and then through other activities. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Alright, Let s see I had a couple of others here. Do you recall just off the top of your head the last direction you gave Gomez and Miller with regard to the transfer out of the Cayman Island account? Colonel Oliver North. I do not recall the last one, Sir.
Iran-Contra Hearings - Testimony of Colonel Oliver North.
Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Did you ever ask Roy Godson, who was, as I understand it, special consultant to the NSC, to help the private fundraising efforts in support of the Central American activities? Colonel Oliver North. For two specific purposes both of them non-military. Both of which we ought not to raise in here. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Right. But the point is you did ask him to do something. Colonel Oliver North. I did and he did. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Now did you ever have, do you recall a meeting at the White House with Roy Godson, Terry Sleaze and Bud McFarland? Colonel Oliver North. Yes Sir. I don t recall the specific details of the meeting. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Yeah. But it was in general about your activities in Central America. Colonel Oliver North. Yes it was, but it was non-military I would to point out. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). ell By non military you mean it was a different operation other than the Nicaraguan contras? Colonel Oliver North. It was in support of the Nicaraguan resistance, non military activity. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Non military activity. I got you. Did you authorize Gomez and Miller to deduct about twenty thousand dollars for their expenses? Colonel Oliver North. I never got into those kinds of details with them. We did discuss that they would derive fair, just and wise compensation for their services. We never talked about specific amounts.
Iran-Contra Hearings - Testimony of Colonel Oliver North.
Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Well were you ever aware of the fact that John Donahue contributed a hundred thousand dollars? Colonel Oliver North. The name does not ring a bell of the top of my head. No Sir. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Do you recall any connection with regard to the disbursement to The Heritage Foundation? Colonel Oliver North. This is the first I can recall hearing about it. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). And therefore you wouldn t know anything about anreward by the Heritage Foundation to a Gomez- Miller operation? Colonel Oliver North. I do not recall knowing anything about that. No Sir.
Iran-Contra Hearings - Testimony of Colonel Oliver North.
Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida) Do you recall John Hurdle? Do you know a man named John Hurdle? Colonel Oliver North. Yes Sir I do. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Did you meet with him and discuss the Central American effort? Colonel Oliver North. Yes we did. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Do you know whether or not he ever contributed any money? Colonel Oliver North. I don t believe he personally did. But he did arrange for me to meet with others who I believe did so. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Do you recall their names by any chance? Colonel Oliver North. I do not. You re hitting me pretty quick Mr. Chairman. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Well I know, but we don t have that information. Colonel Oliver North. I understand. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). We don t have that information. I thought you might but it s pretty tough to remember stuff over a period of five years. I recognize that. Colonel Oliver North. Well if I could just make one more point on Mr. Hurdle. It is my recollection on the meetings he did arrange for me in Philadelphia I believe, and there may have been another one or two down here, were all again for non-military purposes. There were specific activities, I think, we have agreed not to raise publically here were being supported though. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Right, in other words for the total effort, but non-military in nature. Colonel Oliver North. Yes Sir. That s right.
Iran-Contra Hearings - Testimony of Colonel Oliver North.
Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Did you authorize Rich Miller, or anyone else for that matter, to draft letters for you with your signature who were sent to individuals which were helpful? Colonel Oliver North. I did. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). And were those letters actually drafted by Rich Miller? And did you authorize him to sign it? Or did you sign it. Colonel Oliver North. No, I believe I signed out several hundred letters to people who had supported the resistance. Representative Dante Fascell (D - Florida). Thank you very much Col. you have been extremely helpful. Colonel Oliver North. Thank you very much Sir.