No Iran-Contra Case Pardons, 32 in House Urge

Thirty-two House Democrats told President Reagan in a letter Thursday that he should give up any thought of pardoning those accused of crimes in the Iran-Contra scandal.

A presidential pardon “would be viewed by the American public as an endorsement of misconduct by public officials,” the lawmakers said.

The letter was prompted by Reagan’s comment last week that he did not believe Lt. Col. Oliver L. North and his three co-defendants were guilty of any crimes. There has been speculation for several months that Reagan might pardon his former aides if they faced conviction on criminal charges.

“In order for this nation to truly place the disastrous Iran-Contra scandal in the past, justice must be allowed to follow its full course,” said the letter, which was initiated by Rep. Ted Weiss (D-N.Y.).

In calling on Reagan to “disavow any intention” of pardoning those charged in the scandal, the signers of the letter said that “retaining the option to pardon indicted participants in the Iran-Contra affair has a chilling effect on the ongoing investigation. It is essential that all facts about this incident be publicized and that all those suspected of criminal conduct be tried in a court of law.”