# Did Iran/Contra fit the definition of treason?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-iran-contra-fit-the-definition-of-treason/212840>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [November 12, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-iran-contra-fit-the-definition-of-treason/212840 "2003-11-12T16:53:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-iran-contra-fit-the-definition-of-treason/212840/1 "2003-11-12T16:53:28Z")

</div>

From the US Constitution: “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.”

Who exactly, in Iran, were the arms sold to? Would they have been considered an enemy of the US at the time?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-iran-contra-fit-the-definition-of-treason/212840/2 "2004-03-06T19:41:22Z")

</div>

I’ll bump this once.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-iran-contra-fit-the-definition-of-treason/212840/3 "2004-03-06T19:45:02Z")

</div>

I’m not sure if it was treason, but it did fit the “High Crimes and Misdemeanors” mentioned as a reason for impeachment. Reagan should have been impeached.