Lawmakers Vow to Halt Leaks After Report on Casey Iran-Contra Role

WASHINGTON —  The leaders of the congressional Iran- contra panels, reacting to a report that lawmakers believe former CIA Director William J. Casey was the mastermind of plans to supply the Nicaraguan rebels, vowed Wednesday to oust members who leak details of the probes.

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), the Senate panel chairman, would not confirm or deny the substance of the report in the New York Times. Instead, he promised to fire committee staff aides who leaked information to the media.

“It’s not a question of whether it’s right or wrong,” Inouye said after a meeting of his 11-member committee, established along with one in the House to investigate U.S. arms sales to Iran and the diversion of profits to the contras. “I think it would be wrong for any member of the panel to be discussing matters like that.”

Paper Cites Sources

The New York Times cited as sources for its stories two members of the Senate panel and a member of the companion House panel.

Inouye said an internal probe would look into the sources of the Times report. Inouye said if that investigation determines who is “responsible for the unauthorized transmission of information,” he would fire them.

If senators are involved, Inouye said, he would “not hesitate” to ask the Senate leadership to replace that member of the panel.

Hamilton Agrees

Asked later about Inouye’s comments, Rep. Lee H. Hamilton (D-Ind.), chairman of the House panel, said he shared the senator’s view.

“We will check carefully to see if any of our people . . . were the source of the leak,” Hamilton said after a meeting at which the House panel was briefed by its staff on documents that have been assembled on the Iran affair.

House committee member Rep. Henry J. Hyde (R-Ill.) said members were “severely admonished” at the meeting about leaks to the media, but said speculation that Casey may have directed major parts of the Iran-contra affair did not surprise him.