CIA Nominee Seen Part of Cover-Up Plan

A member of the Senate Intelligence Committee said today that President Reagan’s nominee for CIA director, Robert Gates, appears to be part of a calculated effort to cover up parts of the Iran- contra affair.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said Gates still has a lot of explaining to do about his role in the affair, including events just before and after the diversion of Iran arms-sale profits to Nicaraguan rebels became public.

“You really have a whole pattern here of calculated concealment,” Specter told reporters. “And when you put Mr. Gates in that kind of a pattern, it becomes even more of a problem than if you take his own conduct in isolation.”

Specter’s comments came as leaders of the special Senate committee investigating the Iran arms deal suggested it may be desirable to delay action on confirming Gates’ nomination.

Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) and vice chairman Warren B. Rudman (R-N.H.) said delaying a vote until congressional inquiries are complete would not harm agency operations because Gates already is working as acting chief.