CIA Director John Deutch at Los Angeles Town Hall in 1996 Denies Agency Sold Cocaine in City

CIA Director John Deutch spoke to central Los Angeles residents at a town hall meeting about allegations that the CIA sold drugs in the city to finance covert operations in Central America. Representative Juanita M. McDonald (D-CA) who represents the state’s 37th Congressional District, sponsored the meeting. The director stated he had seen no proof of such allegations but would continue to pursue the matter if more people bring new evidence to the investigation. Many of the questioners were very confrontational. The allegations were originally raised in the San Jose Mercury-News.