The Nation : Bill Introduced to Restore North Pension

The House Armed Services Committee’s top Republican introduced legislation to restore the $23,000-a-year pension former White House aide Oliver L. North lost because of his felony convictions in the Iran-Contra affair. Rep. William L. (Bill) Dickinson (R-Ala.) said North, a 20-year Marine veteran, has “demonstrated his willingness to give his life for his country” and should not be asked “to give up the security of his own family on charges that may not have been his doing.” Dickinson’s legislation would exempt North from a law that denies retirement pay to any government officer convicted of destroying government documents, one of three felony crimes for which North was convicted. The U.S. comptroller general on Monday rejected a recommendation from the Navy that North’s pension be restored, saying there is “serious doubt” about whether North was entitled to retirement pay.