Iran-Contra prosecutors were expected to seek as early as today an indictment of Clair George, the former third-ranking official at the CIA, in connection with the Iran-Contra scandal, The New York Times reported.
A grand jury has been hearing evidence in the case for months, and the Times said the indictment was expected to accuse George of lying to Congress about his knowledge of the diversion of profits to Nicaraguan rebels from arms sales to Iran.The retired head of the CIA's covert operations, George's name first surfaced in July when prosecutors said he told a subordinate, Alan Fiers, to conceal from Congress the agency's knowledge of the Contra supply pipeline.
Fiers pleaded guilty in July to misdemeanor charges of withholding information from Congress. Fiers has been cooperating with the government in its investigation of the most serious scandal in the Reagan administration.
The Times reported that a lawyer close to the case said Thursday night that prosecutors may ask the grand jury to delay indicting George until next week.
George could not be reached for comment. A spokeswoman for Iran-Contra prosecutor Lawrence Walsh declined comment, the newspapers said.