Democrats to Probe Alleged Contras Corruption

With U.S. aid for the Nicaraguan rebels already in jeopardy, congressional Democrats are preparing to mount a wide-ranging investigation into allegations of drug-dealing, gunrunning and other illegal activities by leaders of the insurgency, it was learned Tuesday.

Sources said that House Democratic leaders view the investigation as a potential way of turning the political tide against President Reagan’s request for $100 million in military and logistical aid to the rebels, known as contras.

The aid proposal has been approved by the Senate but twice defeated in the House. Still another vote has been delayed until at least next month.

Pressure for Hearings

Evidence of possible illegal acts by the contras has been collected by the staff of Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), who is pressing for hearings by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But the panel’s chairman, Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.), a supporter of the President’s proposed aid package, is known to be resisting the request.

As a result, aides said, Kerry has also shared the information with House Democratic leaders, who are prepared to schedule hearings in their chamber. It has not yet been decided which House committee will take jurisdiction over an investigation.

A recent inquiry by the House inter-American affairs subcommittee has already concluded that the U.S. government cannot adequately account for more than $7 million in non-lethal aid provided to the contras during the current fiscal year.

Diversion of Funds

In addition, aides said, Kerry has amassed evidence that private donations from U.S. contributors are being diverted by contra leaders, some of whom have been accused of such illegal activities as smuggling drugs and gunrunning.

Senate aides said a number of private donors have come to Kerry with accusations that contra leader Adolfo Calero and his brother, Mario, have not been delivering their donated goods to the rebels.

One such complaint came from Philip Mabry of Fort Worth, Tex., who says that he collected $18,000 in clothing and medical supplies for the contras over the last 18 months.

In a recent speech on the Senate floor, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) accused the Calero brothers of diverting U.S. funds for their own use.

The allegations of drug-smuggling and gunrunning by the contras also are known to be under scrutiny by the FBI. Federal investigators acknowledged last week that they are looking into possible illegal shipments of arms to the rebels, as well as charges that cocaine has been smuggled into the country to help finance the insurgency.

Search for ‘Smoking Gun’

Richard McColl, an aide to Kerry, said the senator as yet has found “no smoking gun” in his investigation of the contras. But he said “there are enough people telling the same story” to lend credence to the allegations.

Mark Helmke, a spokesman for Lugar, said the Indiana lawmaker is under pressure from Kerry and from Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.), both members of the Foreign Relations Committee, to conduct hearings on the subject. He said that while Lugar opposes such hearings, he has promised Kerry and Dodd that he will arrange a way for them to “submit their findings” to the committee.

Helmke said Lugar believes that the only way for the United States to ensure the elimination of corruption in the contra leadership is to provide them with U.S. aid.

“The way to get rid of the crooks is to have a hand in it,” he said.