#Edwin meese scandals professional#
#Edwin meese scandals series#

However, McKay claimed Meese 'probably,' violated federal conflict of interest laws by having stock in a telephone company while reviewing telecommunications policy as attorney general, according to The New York Times. McKay wrote in his 1988 report that there was 'insufficient evidence' to show Meese accepted bribes with regard to Wedtech or broke the law against bribing foreign officials, in connection with the pipeline. Meese was accused of bribing the Israeli Labor Party to not destroy a proposed pipeline running from Jordan to Iraq and of investing in Wedtech. Independent prosecutor James McKay also investigated Meese for allegedly filing a false tax return, involvement in a $1 billion pipeline project in Iraq and his ties to the Wedtech Corp., a military contractor accused of fraud. He was investigated for his involvement in trying to cover up the scandal, allegedly in an effort to protect Reagan, and for compromising the investigation.

#Edwin meese scandals series#

However, he made a series of missteps, including not notifying Congress of the investigation, failing to protect National Security Council documents and not taking notes during his interviews. In 1986, according to Brown University, Meese organized an investigation into what Reagan knew about the sale. weapon sales to Iran financed Contra rebels in Nicaragua. His service as attorney general coincided with the Iran-Contra scandal, when U.S. The counsel cleared him of violating federal law, but his critics argued that this showed he lacked the ethical qualifications to be attorney general. Meese had been the subject of independent counsel's inquiry into whether he had arranged jobs for others who did him financial favors while working in the White House and whether he received special treatment from government agencies in his business affairs. ''I think a number of people had questions. ''I'm not bitter at all,'' Meese told the Timesafter the vote. However, he was confirmed in February 1985 by a vote of 63-31. But his confirmation was a tense one, involving accusations of poor ethical standards and a lack of commitment to enforcing civil rights laws, according to The New York Times. As counselor, he was Reagan's chief policy adviser and also served on the president's National Security Council and chairman of the Domestic Policy Council and the National Drug Policy Board.įollowing his re-election in 1984, Reagan nominated Meese for attorney general. Shortly after Reagan's inauguration in January 1981, Meese served as counselor to the president, the most senior staff position. Meese served as chief of staff and senior issues adviser, according to a biography posted on the University of Virginia medical school's website. After Reagan won, Meese was in charge of the presidential transition later joined the administration.

#Edwin meese scandals professional#

His professional path crossed with Reagan's again when the former actor ran for president in 1980. Who is Rick Rescorla? Presidential Citizens Medal Awarded to 9/11 Hero.Ex-Reagan adviser Says Every Day Trump Is President 'Is a Day of Disgrace'.Ex-Reagan Official Blasts Republicans: 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'.In 1977, Meese become a law professor at the University of San Diego, where he taught until 1981. Reagan's second term as governor ended in 1975, and the two parted ways professionally. He held the positions through 1974 and also served as Reagan's legal affairs secretary from 1967 through 1968. Working for Governor ReaganĪfter serving as deputy district attorney of Alameda County, California, Meese became then–Governor Reagan's executive assistant and chief of staff in 1969, according to the Hoover Institution, a public policy think tank at Stanford University. Trump credited him with being a 'thought leader' and 'strong conservative voice' regarding law and policy. In his announcement of the award, Trump applauded Meese's foreign affairs activities during the Cold War and his role in securing 'historic tax cuts.'įor much of his political career, Meese worked for Reagan, following him from the Governor's Mansion in California to the White House.

Meese will be the 13 th person to receive the award from Trump and the second from the Reagan administration. President Donald Trump is scheduled to award Meese the Medal of Freedom during a White House ceremony Tuesday afternoon. Former Attorney General Edwin Meese III, who served for about seven years in the Reagan administration, will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor.