REPORT: REAGAN HAD NO HOSTAGE DEAL WITH IRAN CONGRESSIONAL PROBE SEEKS TO LAY

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 13, 1993                   TAG: 9301130019
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A2   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium
REPORT: REAGAN HAD NO HOSTAGE DEAL WITH IRAN CONGRESSIONAL PROBE SEEKS TO LAY
A $1.3 million congressional investigation has found no credible evidence that Republicans conspired with Iran in 1980 to delay the release of American hostages until after the U.S. election, according to a summary of the report obtained Tuesday.
The full document, to be released by the bipartisan congressional task force today, seeks to lay to rest allegations that have haunted the Reagan and Bush administrations for years.
"There is wholly insufficient credible evidence of any communications by, or on behalf of, the 1980 Reagan presidential campaign with any persons representing or connected with the Iranian government, or with those holding Americans as hostages during the 1979-1981 period," said the summary.
"There is no credible evidence supporting any attempt or proposal to attempt, by the Reagan presidential campaign . . . to delay the release of the American hostages in Iran," the House task force concluded after an 11-month investigation.
The report, which runs several hundred pages, contains detailed information rebutting allegations that senior Reagan aides took part in meetings in Europe with Iranian representatives.
It also discusses in detail attempts by the Carter administration to achieve freedom for the 52 Americans. The Reagan campaign feared those efforts would bear fruit at the 11th hour - in what they termed an October Surprise - and result in victory for the Democratic incumbent.
The hostages were in fact freed hours after Reagan's Jan. 20, 1981, inauguration. Subsequently, there were allegations that Reagan's campaign cut a deal with Iran to delay the release in return for U.S. weapons. This purported deal also eventually came to be called an October Surprise.
But the task force reported that, in fact, the Reagan administration in its first term "upheld the arms embargo with Iran and encouraged its allies to do the same." In its second term, the Reagan administration did sell Iran weapons, in return for the release of Americans taken hostage in Lebanon.
The congressional leadership decided last February to get to the bottom of the October Surprise allegations, establishing separate Senate and House task forces.
The Senate panel issued a similar conclusion in November.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB