House Iran-Contra Investigators Summon Hasenfus to Washington

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Pardoned gunrunner Eugene Hasenfus has been called to Washington by the House select committee investigating the Iran arms- contra aid scandal, his lawyer said Tuesday.

“He has received a subpoena and will be appearing Thursday of this week in Washington,” said Ernest Pleger of Marinette, Wis., Hasenfus’ hometown. “I contacted Washington and was advised this was sort of a preliminary discussion.”

Pleger said “preliminary discussion” probably meant Hasenfus would only be questioned initially by a panel staff member.

Hasenfus was the lone survivor of a cargo plane shot down in October by Nicaraguan government troops in the southern part of the country. The plane was ferrying guns and other supplies to rebels trying to overthrow the Sandinista government.

Hasenfus was convicted and sentenced in November to 30 years in prison. He was pardoned last month by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, who said he hoped the gunrunner would return to the United States and testify before congressional committees investigating the Iran affair.