Judge Dismisses Contra Aid Counts, Cites U.S. ‘War’ Against Nicaragua

A federal judge dismissed Neutrality Act charges against six men accused of aiding the Contras, saying the U.S. government itself was conducting a secret war against Nicaragua at the time.

U.S. District Judge Norman Roettger in Ft. Lauderdale issued the strongly worded order six months after hearings that featured testimony by former government intelligence officers and Contra leader Adolfo Calero, whose brother, Mario, was one of the defendants.

The defense contended that the men were working with the Ronald Reagan Administration in its efforts to supply the Contras and said that the Neutrality Act could not apply because it bans such actions only when the nation is at peace.

Roettger agreed in his opinion, which was signed Wednesday and made available Thursday.

“The court finds the evidence overwhelming that the United States was not ‘at peace’ with Nicaragua during the time charged in this indictment,” from October, 1984, to March, 1985, the judge wrote.

Roettger emphasized that the Reagan Administration continued to try to overthrow the Sandinistas even after Congress passed the Boland Amendment, banning U.S. funding for such efforts.