Preliminary Inquiry Into Alleged 1980 Negotiations to Delay Release of Iranian Hostages Until After November Election

GAO discussed the results of its preliminary inquiry into the allegations that high-ranking officials of a presidential campaign staff met with Iranian officials in Paris, France, in October 1980, to negotiate delaying the release of the Iranian-held American hostages until after the November election. GAO noted that: (1) there was no documentary evidence to support the allegations; (2) the information furnished in support of the allegations was extraneous or unsupported, or would have required extensive investigative activity beyond the scope of the GAO inquiry; and (3) a review of air flight logs of the planes allegedly involved, relevant press articles, and Secret Service records placed the vice-presidential candidate in the United States on the weekend in question.