INTERVIEW OF DEWEY CLARRIDGE BY HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE STAFF

• Document Type: FOIA
• Keywords: SEAL BARRY
• Keywords: MENA ARKANSAS
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0001289872
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 22, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 30, 2009
• Case Number: F-2002-01499
• Publication Date: May 3, 1988

APPROVED FOR
RELEASE DATE:
23-Sep-2009
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
OCA 88-1404
3 May 1988
SUBJECT: Interview of Dewey Clarridge by House Judiciary Committee
Staff
1. On 22 April 1988, Jim Dahl.and Haydon Gregory, staffers
from the Subcommittee on Crime of the House Judiciary Committee,
interviewed Dewey Clarridge regarding his knowledge of drug
trafficking by the Nicaraguan government or-the Contras. The
focus of the briefing concerned a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
operation in June 1984 to photograph Nicaraguan government
officials in Nicaragua loading cocaine onto a plane bound for the
United States. The plane was piloted by a DEA informant, Barry
Seal, and the hidden cameras were installed by the Agency on the
plane in Miami.
2. During the briefing Dewey recalled being asked by DEA to
install a hidden camera on the plane piloted by Barry Seal. Dewey
stated. that it was his understanding that the photographs would be
given to DEA to use in a. possible trial. The Agency's role in the-'
entire operation was merely to support a law enforcement under-
taking. Dewey recalls that one of the individuals photographed
loading cocaine onto the plane was Federico Vaughan, an aide to
the Nicaraguan Interior Minister.
4. Dewey recalls that not long after obtaining the
photographs of Nicaraguan government officials loading cocaine
into the plane, a briefing was arranged by DEA in North's office.
Dewey was present at the briefing, but cannot recall-why he was
present for the briefing; he did not know whether the DEA
operation was over at the time of the briefing.
 6.. Mr. Gregory noted that a few weeks after the briefing in
North's office, the pictures were leaked to the Washington Times.
Dewey stated that he did not know whether North or anyone on is
staff leaked the pictures tb the newspaper. Dewey did remember
that Paula Hawkins. used the pictures in her re-election effort.
7. Mr. Gregory also asked Dewey a series of questions dealing
with allegations of Contra. involvement with drug smuggling. Dewey
responded that these allegations arose after he left the Latin
American Division, and therefore he was not in a. position to
comment on the allegations.
Leg s n
Office of Congressional Affairs
Distribution:
Original - OCA/Legislation Subject File
1 Signer
I OCA.Registry
1 - D OCA
OCA/Leg (3 May 1988)