Retired Air Force Gen. Richard V. Secord admitted Wednesday he lied to Congress about the use of money in the Iran-Contra scandal, pleading guilty to a felony that could send him to prison for five years.
Secord appeared before a stern federal judge who asked him questions about his activities in the Iran-Contra scandal that involved the trading of arms to Iran and the diversion of some of that money to aid the Nicaraguan Contras.Secord told Chief U.S. District Judge Aubrey E. Robinson Jr. that he lied under oath to congressional investigators looking into the Reagan administration scandal.
Secord specifically admitted he lied about money from "the enterprise" going to benefit former White House aide Oliver North. Secord said "no" to congressional investigators when asked about money going to North, but admitted Wednesday he was not telling the truth.
Robinson asked Secord why he lied.
"I answered no . . . in a misguided effort to prevent further criticism" of North and himself, Secord responded. He said "there has already been a firestorm in the press" about the unraveling Iran-Contra scandal.
The judge allowed Secord to remain free until a pre-sentencing report is prepared and some confusion is cleared up over the possible fine Secord could be ordered to pay. It could be as high as $250,000 - in addition to a five-year prison term - Robinson said.
Secord, 57, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, filed by independent prosecutor Lawrence Walsh. His trial had been scheduled to begin Monday, but his lawyers worked out a deal with Walsh.
Secord pleaded guilty to a single charge in agreement for all other charges being dismissed.
In a statement after the court proceeding ended, Walsh said: "General Secord has pleaded guilty to a felony for lying to Congress. This is important because it enforces congressional oversight and because it brings within an adequate range of punishment one of the principal participants in the Iran-Contra diversion."
Walsh's chief prosecutor in the Secord trial would have been Reid Weingarten, who told the judge the government was prepared to prove that Secord provided North with a home security system costing almost $14,000 and a secret Swiss bank account containing $200,000 funded by arms profits.
Secord's agreement to cooperate could result in his testimony against his friend and partner Albert Hakim - putting strong pressure on Hakim also to reach a deal with Walsh.
Secord could be forced to test-ify as a prosecution witness in the trial of former national security adviser John Poindexter, scheduled for Jan. 22.