1.5 Million Sign Petition Calling for President to Pardon North, Falwell Says
LYNCHBURG, Va. — About 1.5 million people have placed their names on a nationwide petition calling for a presidential pardon for Iran-Contra figure Oliver L. North, a spokesman for the Rev. Jerry Falwell said Friday.
Falwell, who launched the petition drive in March, is seeking 2 million names, and his spokesman, Mark DeMoss, said the final 500,000 names could be obtained sometime this month.
DeMoss said the names, obtained through a toll-free telephone number, have come from all over the United States.
North, a former National Security Council aide, was indicted along with several others on charges including conspiracy, theft and fraud. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and has retired from the Marine Corps, where he had attained the rank of lieutenant colonel.
North is on the lecture circuit, reportedly commanding $25,000 per appearance. He spoke gratis at Falwell’s Liberty University commencement last month, defending his actions in the Iran-Contra matter.
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