Word: boland
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...forbid Administration solicitation from other countries or private individuals of funds to buy arms for the contras? By specifying that "no funds available" could be used, the Boland amendment seemed to prohibit such a ruse. Assistant Secretary of State Langhorne Motley told Congress in 1985 that the Administration interpreted the law to prohibit "soliciting and/or encouraging other countries to contribute funds." He said, "We have refrained from doing that." In fact it was being done -- without his knowledge, says Motley...
...indirect" expenditures apply to funds used to pay the salaries of Government officials who helped the contras? During the debate over his amendment in 1984, Boland emphasized the point: "It clearly prohibits any expenditure, including those from accounts for salaries." If he is right, the disclosures that various Government employees -- most notably North and Assistant Secretary of State Elliott Abrams -- spent time coordinating support for the contras would pretty clearly point to a violation...
Independent Counsel Lawrence Walsh seems to be pursuing a strategy designed to get around the murkiness of the Boland amendment and the fact that it carries no criminal penalties. Besides seeking indictments charging such specific crimes as obstruction of justice, perjury and misuse of Government funds, Walsh may tie many defendants together in a broader conspiracy case, arguing that the individual overt acts were committed in pursuit of a larger scheme to evade the will of Congress. Engaging in such a conspiracy would be a felony punishable by five years in prison...
Despite disagreements over the Boland amendment's provisions, it seems clear enough that Congress intended to shut off for a period any kind of U.S. Government aid to the contras. Last week's testimony turned up new specific acts that show how the law was intentionally circumvented and probably violated outright by Government officials. Among the acts...
...Boland amendment is far from the only statute that may have been violated by Government officials involved in the Iran-contra affair. Indeed, almost every day of the congressional hearings brings to light at least a hint of illegalities going beyond Boland. Some examples...