Drug Czar Backs Call for Probe of CIA
The federal government’s top narcotics-fighting official has endorsed a call by the Congressional Black Caucus for a formal investigation of drug allegations against the CIA.
The San Jose Mercury News has reported that throughout the 1980s a San Francisco-area drug ring sold tons of cocaine to Los Angeles gangs and funneled the profits to some of the CIA-directed Contra rebels in Nicaragua.
Barry McCaffrey, the national drug control policy director, said Saturday at an Operation PUSH news conference that he talked to CIA Director John Deutch and was told there was nothing to the allegations.
“But until the American public is fully satisfied, there must be a full and thorough investigation,” McCaffrey added at the Chicago-based civil rights organization’s headquarters.
The Congressional Black Caucus said last week that it was asking President Clinton to order an inquiry. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) said Friday that a formal letter would be delivered to the White House.
Deutch, saying he has found no evidence of such wrongdoing, has already ordered an internal investigation. Atty. Gen. Janet Reno has said the Justice Department made a preliminary inquiry and found no evidence supporting the allegations.
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