129 Democrats Ask Shultz to Fire Abrams
More than 120 House Democrats today signed a letter urging that Assistant Secretary of State Elliott Abrams be sacked.
The letter, sent to Secretary of State George P. Shultz, said Abrams had deceived Congress about his role in the Iran- contra scandal and could no longer serve effectively.
“He must resign or be replaced immediately,” said the letter, which bore 129 signatures, none of them from Republicans.
Shultz has defended Abrams, the State Department’s top official for Latin American affairs, saying he had not broken any laws. At a news conference Thursday at the conclusion of the Venice economic summit, President Reagan gave Abrams a lukewarm endorsement.
Abrams has said he did not know the extent of the Iran-contra network, orchestrated by then-White House aide Oliver L. North, and did not know it involved shipments of arms to the rebels at a time when military aid was banned by Congress.
North was fired last November for his role in the scandal.
Abrams also admitted misleading congressional intelligence committees about his solicitation of $10 million from Brunei.
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