Members of Congress Vow ‘to Wash It All Out’

Members of Congress, stunned by revelations that money from the Iranian arms deal was diverted to Nicaraguan rebels, harshly criticized President Reagan for not being in control of foreign policy today and pledged “to wash it all out” during a lengthy investigation.

Foreign policy legislators said the removal of Reagan’s national security adviser Adm. John M. Poindexter and an assistant, Oliver North, does not resolve the foreign policy crisis that has rocked the Administration.

Both Democrats and Republicans pledged that a thorough congressional investigation will be conducted.

Rep. William S. Broomfield (R-Mich.), senior Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, predicted “a very prolonged” congressional inquiry. He said that Reagan can survive the crisis but that “this is going to be one of the major tests of his entire tenure as President of the United States.”

Sen. Dave Durenberger (R-Minn.), chairman of the Intelligence Committee, said about the revelation that between $10 million and $30 million Iran paid for arms was diverted to the contras : “It is way beyond even our most creative imagination.”

Kemp Lauds Reagan

Some Republicans, including Rep. Jack Kemp (R-N.Y.), praised Reagan for announcing his own investigation.

“If any illegalities took place,” Kemp said, “then appropriate action should be taken by the Justice Department.” Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), said Reagan was acting “properly and candidly.”

But Senate Democratic leader Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia said Reagan did not go far enough.

“I don’t think one or two scapegoats is necessarily the answer to this whole matter,” he told reporters.

“It was a shocking revelation and it further shows up the chaotic state of our foreign policy,” Byrd said. “What this says is that nobody seems to be really in charge of the foreign policy of this country. It says that the White House is in a chaotic state of affairs and that the best thing to do is to sort of wash it all out and let the people see and hear.”

Dole Sees ‘Bizarre Twist’

Senate Republican leader Bob Dole of Kansas called the diversion of funds to the contras “a bizarre twist, which has to be explored thoroughly before any final judgments are drawn.”

Rep. Les Aspin (D-Wis.), chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said that “clearing the decks” was important but that he wonders, “Have they cleared them far enough?”

Congress this week began hearings to investigate details of the Iran arms deal, and members of the various committees involved have expressed disbelief at the secrecy and seeming lack of coordination on the deal within the White House.

But the announcement today that Poindexter and North will be relieved of their duties and that some money tied up in the arms deal was diverted to the contra rebels in Nicaragua stunned members even more.

Criticism of Reagan and his advisers was direct and harsh.

‘Anything Is Plausible’

Aspin, asked whether it is possible, as Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III stated, that Reagan did not know of the contra money, said, “With this President, anything is plausible.”

House Democratic leader Jim Wright of Texas said Reagan has a way of creating his own version of reality.

“Mr. Reagan . . . is uniquely capable of psyching himself up into a frame of mind in which he can believe whatever he wants to believe,” Wright said.