LETTER TO ROBERT M. GATES FROM LEE H. HAMILTON RE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE COVERT ARMS TRANSACTIONS WITH IRAN HAS COMMENCED ITS INVESTIGATION

• Document Type: FOIA
• Keywords: IRAN-CONTRA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0001296190
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 22, 2015
• Document Release Date: June 9, 2009
• Case Number: F-1992-00896
• Publication Date: January 14, 1987

U_S_ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES I ~Yp~-rt~NA~~:'
January 14, 1987
Dr. Robert M. Gates
Acting Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
87-0239
APPROVED FOR
RELEASE^DATE:
16-Dec-2008
The House Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms
Transactions with Iran has commenced its investigation of covert
arms sales to Iran and related matters. A copy of House
Resolution 12, 100th Congress, 1st Session, establishing the
Select Committee accompanies this letter. At this time, the
Select Committee needs to request a full documentary basis for
proceeding with its investigation. In the near future, the
Select Committee staff will begin interviews and depositions of
witnesses leading to Committee hearings. John W. Nields, Jr.,
the Select Committee's Chief Counsel, will be discussing further
requests for documents, requests for witnesses, and other details
of the inquiry.
The Select Committee should be provided by noon on
Wednesday, January 21, 1987, with all materials under the control
of the Central Intelligence Agency on any subject relating to (i)
arms transactions directly or through third parties with Iran,
Israel, Manucher Ghorbanifar, Adnan Khashoggi,-Yaacov Nimrodi, Al
Schwimmer, or Amiran Nir; (ii) efforts to enlist the aid of Iran
or Israel or persons located in Iran or Israel to obtain the
release of United States hostages seized or held in Lebanon; and
(iii) the supplying or proposed supplying of any financial or
other assistance in whatever form to anti-government forces in
Nicaragua, from January 1, 1984 to December 15, 1986. Of course,
the agency may have provided some of the documents covered by
this list to the committees of the Ninety-Ninth Congress;
however, to assure completeness a full set of documents,
including those previously provided, should be furnished, unless
other arrangements are made with the Select Committee's
counsel. For now, the Select Committee will receive documents at
H-405 in the Capitol, the Select Committee may subsequently
specify other offices for the furnishing of documents, once it
completes security preparations.
 Dr. Robert M. Gates
January 14, 1987
Page 2
As a continuing matter, the Select Committee should be
furnished with copies of all materials provided to the Senate
Select Committee on Secret Military Assistance to Iran and the
Nicaraguan Opposition, and to, Judge Walsh, the Independent
Counsel pursuing the Iran inquiry. Such a production routine
will best move this investigation along toward completion.
It is my hope that your prompt response will aid the Select
Committee's inquiry and assist the Select Committee in meeting
its mandate from the House of Representatives to complete its
investigation "as soon as practicable."
With best wishes, I am
Lee H. Hamilton
Chairman
House Select Committee to
Investigate Covert Arms
Transactions with Iran