terrorist with ties to the Iranian government held U.S citizen hostages in Lebanon hoping to secure the release of the hostage,Reagan officials made a deal with Iran.
Marine lieutenant colonel Oliver North and navy vice admiral John poindexter,both assigned to the white house national security council,arranged for the sale of weapons to Iran in return return help in freeing American hostage.
North and poindexter decided to tunnel money from this secret arms sale to help the Nicaraguan contras.
That deals violated the constitution by interfering with Congress's role in making foreign policy.
Congress held hearings to the determine whether President Reagan had participated in breaking the law.
but there was never any proof of the president involvement