MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Eugene Hasenfus, who played a key role in unraveling the Iran-Contra affair after his CIA-backed supply plane was shot down over Nicaragua in 1986, has died.
Hasenfus died on Nov. 26 in Menominee, Michigan, after a nine-year battle with cancer, according to his obituary from the Hansen-Onion-Martell Funeral Home in Marinette, Wisconsin. He was 84.
Born on January 22, 1941, in Marinette, Hasenfus served in the Marines during the Vietnam War and continued a career in aviation. He entered the spotlight during the Cold War’s Iran-Contra scandal in 1986.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan authorized the CIA to support the Contra rebels fighting the Sandinista government in Nicaragua, especially after Congress halted military aid in 1984. The Reagan administration clandestinely continued military support, with day-to-day operations overseen by National Security Council aide Oliver North.
The illicit supply network collapsed when Hasenfus's plane was shot down in October 1986, leading to his capture by Nicaraguan forces. He evaded authorities for over 24 hours but was ultimately arrested, facing charges including terrorism.
After emphasizing that the CIA was involved in the flights, Hasenfus's disclosures instigated a congressional inquiry into the affair. He was tried in Nicaragua and sentenced to 30 years, but was pardoned shortly after by President Daniel Ortega.
Returning to Wisconsin, Hasenfus pursued an unsuccessful lawsuit for damages related to the Iran-Contra scandal and faced legal troubles later in life, including a conviction for lewd behavior in 2003.
He is survived by four children and eight grandchildren.
Hasenfus died on Nov. 26 in Menominee, Michigan, after a nine-year battle with cancer, according to his obituary from the Hansen-Onion-Martell Funeral Home in Marinette, Wisconsin. He was 84.
Born on January 22, 1941, in Marinette, Hasenfus served in the Marines during the Vietnam War and continued a career in aviation. He entered the spotlight during the Cold War’s Iran-Contra scandal in 1986.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan authorized the CIA to support the Contra rebels fighting the Sandinista government in Nicaragua, especially after Congress halted military aid in 1984. The Reagan administration clandestinely continued military support, with day-to-day operations overseen by National Security Council aide Oliver North.
The illicit supply network collapsed when Hasenfus's plane was shot down in October 1986, leading to his capture by Nicaraguan forces. He evaded authorities for over 24 hours but was ultimately arrested, facing charges including terrorism.
After emphasizing that the CIA was involved in the flights, Hasenfus's disclosures instigated a congressional inquiry into the affair. He was tried in Nicaragua and sentenced to 30 years, but was pardoned shortly after by President Daniel Ortega.
Returning to Wisconsin, Hasenfus pursued an unsuccessful lawsuit for damages related to the Iran-Contra scandal and faced legal troubles later in life, including a conviction for lewd behavior in 2003.
He is survived by four children and eight grandchildren.
