Meese Approved North Actions, Iran Grand Jury Reportedly Told

The grand jury investigating the Iran- contra affair has heard testimony that White House aides who complained that Lt. Col. Oliver L. North may have been violating the law were told that Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III had approved North’s actions, sources familiar with the investigation said.

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, described at least two National Security Council staffers who made such complaints. The complaints concerned the involvement of North, while an NSC official, in support of the Nicaraguan rebels at a time when Congress had banned U.S. military aid.

The sources described “a bill of particulars” warning of potential trouble in North’s actions that was taken to then-National Security Adviser John M. Poindexter, or through his aides for relay to Poindexter.

One source said the grand jury was told of a case in early 1986 in which a complaint was taken in person to Poindexter’s military aide and staff counsel, Cmdr. Paul B. Thompson, who in turn took the matter to Poindexter while the complaining staffer awaited a response.

The grand jury was told that Thompson returned from the meeting with Poindexter and informed the NSC staffer who was complaining about North that “the attorney general had checked it,” that all was legal and “don’t be concerned with it,” this source said.

There was no way to know whether it was true that the attorney general had provided an opinion, or whether the statements were an exaggeration intended to forestall criticism of North’s activities. Meese’s spokesman declined to comment.

Thompson declined to comment through a White House spokesman, Roman Popadiuk.