THE IRAN-CONTRA HEARINGS : A Pardon Was ‘Never Addressed’
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WASHINGTON — The subject of a presidential pardon for Lt. Col. Oliver L. North, the central figure in the Iran- contra affair, “has never been addressed” by President Reagan, White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said Thursday.
Asked whether there is any possibility that Reagan would pardon the former White House aide, Fitzwater replied: “We have no comment one way or the other.”
A presidential pardon, which can be granted at any point in the legal process, would remove North from any judicial action involved in the incidents for which the pardon was granted. Independent counsel Lawrence E. Walsh is investigating North’s role in the sale of arms to Iran and the diversion of profits to Nicaragua’s rebels.
Otherwise, Fitzwater maintained the White House silence on the congressional hearings at which North is testifying. “We’re just not going to comment on the testimony,” he said.
He said Reagan is “very curious” about the hearings. “He’s followed this very carefully,” the spokesman said. “He knows the testimony.”
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