Rep. Wants CIA Drug Probe Associated Press September 17, 1996 WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rep. Maxi

Rep. Wants CIA Drug Probe
Associated Press
September 17, 1996

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rep. Maxine Waters, who has
demanded inquiries into drug-running allegations
involving the CIA, said Tuesday she may force a
House vote to establish an Iran-Contra-type
investigating committee.

Waters, D-Calif., said she will meet with House
Speaker Newt Gingrich on Wednesday to
seek his support.

Waters' demands follow a three-part series by the
San Jose Mercury News, which detailed how a Bay
Area drug ring sold cocaine to the street gangs of
South-Central Los Angeles -- and funneled drug
profits to a CIA-run guerrilla army in Nicaragua.

At a news conference, Waters said Gingrich told her
he was ``deeply troubled'' by the allegations and
asked for a briefing. ``The speaker said that
something this sinister must be examined. He said
he favored holding hearings ... by the Intelligence
Committee.''

The intelligence panel staff already has begun an
investigation, said Rep. Julian Dixon,
D-Calif., a member of the panel.

CIA Director John Deutch, insisting that he has found
no evidence of wrongdoing, has ordered his
inspector general to investigate the allegations.

``There seems to be a growing bipartisan
commitment to get to the bottom of this,'' Rep.
Melvin L. Watt, D-N.C., said.

AP-NY-09-17-96 1302EDT