Editing Caspar Weinberger (section)

====Iran–Contra affair====
The [[Iran–Contra affair]] concerned the selling of US missiles to Iran. The funds received from Iran were then channeled to guerilla rebels known as [[Contras]], who were fighting the socialist government of Nicaragua.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brown.edu/Research/Understanding_the_Iran_Contra_Affair/i-background.php|title=Understanding the Iran-Contra Affairs - The Iran-Contra Affairs|website=www.brown.edu}}</ref> Such funding had been specifically denied by the US Congress.

Though he claimed to have been opposed to the sale on principle,{{Citation needed|reason=when and where he claimed?|date=April 2019}} Weinberger participated in the transfer of United States [[MIM-23 Hawk|Hawk]] and [[BGM-71 TOW|TOW]] missiles to [[Iran]] at that time.

Iran–Contra resulted in a major scandal with several investigations which resulted in fourteen Reagan administration officials being indicted.<ref>{{Cite news |work=Business Week |url=http://www.businessweek.com/1997/25/b353254.htm |title=Pointing a Finger at Reagan |access-date=2008-04-22 |author=Dwyer, Paula |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416182515/http://www.businessweek.com/1997/25/b353254.htm |archive-date=2008-04-16 }}</ref><ref name="McDonald">{{cite press release |last=McDonald |first=Dian |date=24 December 1992 |title=Bush Pardons Weinberger, Five Others Tied to Iran-Contra |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/1992/921224-260039.htm |location=Washington |publisher=[[United States Information Agency]] |access-date=29 December 2018 |via=GlobalSecurity.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon/bushgrants.htm|title=Pardons and Commutations Granted by President George H.&nbsp;W. Bush|access-date=2008-04-22|publisher=United States Department of Justice}}</ref>

After his resignation as Secretary of Defense, legal proceedings against Weinberger were continued by [[Independent Counsel]] [[Lawrence Edward Walsh|Lawrence E. Walsh]]. On June 17, 1992, Weinberger was indicted on five felony charges related to the Iran-contra affair, including accusations that he had lied to Congress and obstructed Government investigations.<ref name = indict>{{cite news| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/17/us/weinberger-faces-5-counts-in-iran-contra-indictment.html | title = Weinberger Faces 5 Counts In Iran-Contra Indictment | author = Brinley, Joel | date = June 17, 1992 | access-date = August 15, 2019 |newspaper = The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/1992/920606-231623.htm |title=Weinberger charged in Iran-Contra matter |publisher=[[United States Information Agency]] |date=16 June 1992 |access-date=29 December 2018 |via=GlobalSecurity.org}}</ref> He was defended by defense attorney Carl Rauh.

Prosecutors brought an additional indictment just four days before the 1992 presidential election. This was controversial because it cited a Weinberger diary entry contradicting a claim made by President [[George H. W. Bush]]. Republicans claimed that this action contributed to Bush's later defeat. On December 11, 1992, Judge [[Thomas F. Hogan]] threw out this indictment because it violated the five-year statute of limitations and improperly broadened the original charges.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnston |first=David |title=Charge in Weinberger Case That Caused Furor Before Election is Thrown Out |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 12, 1992 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/12/us/charge-in-weinberger-case-that-caused-furor-before-election-is-thrown-out.html }}</ref>

Before Weinberger could be tried on the original charges, he received a [[pardon]] on December 24, 1992, from Bush, who had been Reagan's [[Vice President of the United States|vice president]] during the scandal.<ref name="McDonald" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Johnston |first=David |date=25 December 1992 |title=Bush Pardons 6 in Iran Affair, Averting a Weinberger Trial; Prosecutor Assails 'Cover-Up' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/25/us/pardons-bush-pardons-6-iran-affair-aborting-weinberger-trial-prosecutor-assails.html |work=The New York Times |edition=National |page=A00001 |access-date=29 December 2018}}</ref>