Source – articles.sun-sentinel.com
– ‘…The Reagan people gave Gotti $624,000, the idea was that John Gotti “hit squads“ would infiltrate Nicaragua and level the Sandinista government’. They have a problem, because the first thing John did was to take 10 percent off the top for himself,“ a man said. “He is so used to taking a cut that he even cuts his own money. Now they want the money back?
The cold rain, so uncharacteristic for the season, drove many of the various law enforcement people off 101st Avenue in Queens. On a bright day, these people could stroll about and be unnoticed, but they either had to find a place inside to stay or give up and return to their bases. As they were welcome nowhere on 101st Avenue, store or doorway, they left.
In a most surprising development, it was learned that among those who left because of the rain was a representative from either the Senate committee investigating the Iran-Contra affair, chaired by Sens. Daniel Inouye, D- Hawaii, and Warren Rudman, R-N.H., or Contra special prosecutor Lawrence Walsh. It was unclear exactly which group.
What is known is that people from one of these groups were in Queens because of a reported $624,000 payment in Contra aid funds to John Gotti. He is the reputed head of the Gambino crime family, whose headquarters are in the brick-fronted Bergen Hunt and Fish Club on 101st Avenue.
DID SULTAN OF BRUNEI CONTRIBUTE?
This would make the second time in recent history it has been discovered that the Mafia has been used directly by the American government. The first time was in the 1960s, when the CIA recruited Sam Giancana of Chicago, Santo Trafficante of Tampa and Johnny Rosselli to assassinate Fidel Castro. The CIA agent who was reportedly involved at that time was one Thomas Clines. This time, the same Thomas Clines has been named in the Iran-Contra matter. Special prosecutor Walsh has asked the Senate and House not to give Clines immunity. Clines consistently has been named in stories, along with retired Gens. Richard Secord and John Singlaub.
There was a belief in Queens that at least some of the money received by Gotti came from the Sultan of Brunei. “I hear he is a real good guy,“ somebody said. Other Contra funds collected by Reagan officials and the CIA were sent through Swiss bank accounts out into the vapor. At least some of the money was handled by Carl Channell, a professional right-wing fund-raiser and an associate of Lt. Col. Oliver North. Channell seemed to do his greatest fund-raising for himself. Yet some thought he was the person who gave the $624,000 to Gotti.
The idea was that John Gotti “hit squads“ would infiltrate Nicaragua and level the Sandinista government. But the Reagan people who gave Gotti the $624,000 apparently didn`t know that Gotti refuses to fly and thus can`t get to Nicaragua. He mostly stays in Queens because he thinks the train to Fort Lauderdale takes too long.
Gotti`s people typically turned the situation around and placed all blame for the payment on those who paid. “No wonder they need an investigation in Washington.“
`HE EVEN CUTS HIS OWN MONEY`
The official Washington story is that money for the Contras was raised to put on American television commercials urging Congress to vote for Contra funds. Although Gotti is one of the best gangsters ever to appear on television or in a movie, he was never contracted to make a commercial urging Congress to vote for Contra funds. Therefore, some Contra fund-raisers attempted to ask for the money back.
“They have a problem, because the first thing John did was to take 10 percent off the top for himself,“ a man said. “He is so used to taking a cut that he even cuts his own money. Now they want the money back?
“They better get someplace bigger than a courtroom or a hearing room or whatever it is. They better hire the football stadium in Washington for all the guys who want to see anybody make John Gotti give money back.“
“Who are they, just because they`re from Washington? John Gotti wouldn`t pay Benjamin Franklin.“
This time, there was no discussion in Queens of any sort of plan. Apparently, the matter never got past the point where the $624,000 was given to Gotti, who doesn`t fly. Therefore, again, it is the Reagan administration officials and their loose-wired friends on the fringes who turn out to be, as Sen. Inouye observed, “the gang that couldn`t shoot straight.“
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-05-13/news/8701300513_1_john-gotti-thomas-clines-contra
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