ion, but Olivar North is the most famous of them. North was also the official "fall
             guy" for the US operation. As soon as the story broke to the public, many documents
             were shredded, and more laws were broken. Despite the destruction of evidence, several
             key players were still convicted because of the conspiracy.North was the first person to
             be convicted in relation to the scandal. In October and November 1986, two secret U.S.
             Government operations were publicly exposed, potentially implicating Reagan
             Administration officials in illegal activities. These operations were the provision of
             assistance to the military activities of the Nicaraguan contra rebels during an October
             1984 to October 1986 prohibition on such aid, and the sale of U.S. arms to Iran in
             contravention of stated U.S. policy and in possible violation of arms-export controls. In
             late November 1986, Reagan Administration officials announced that some of the
             proceeds from the sale of U.S. arms to Iran had been diverted to the contras.As a result of
             the exposure of these operations, Attorney General Edwin Meese III sought the
             appointment of an independent counsel to investigate and, if necessary, prosecute
             possible crimes arising from them.The Special Division of the United States Court of
             Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit appointed Lawrence E. Walsh as
             Independent Counsel on December 19, 1986, and charged him with investigating:
             1) the direct or indirect sale, shipment, or transfer since in or about 1984 down to the
             present, of military arms, materiel, or funds to the government of Iran, officials of that
             government, persons, organizations or entities connected with or purporting to represent
             that government, or persons located in Iran
             ...