North Courier Owen Reportedly Given Limited Immunity by Walsh
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WASHINGTON — Robert W. Owen, Lt. Col. Oliver L. North’s liaison to the Nicaraguan rebels, has been granted limited immunity from prosecution in return for his cooperation with independent counsel Lawrence E. Walsh, sources close to the investigation said Monday.
Owen also received limited immunity from the congressional Iran- contra committees before testifying before them in mid-May.
After receiving immunity in a sealed court order from U.S. District Judge Aubrey Robinson earlier this month, Owen was interrogated for more than 12 hours about North’s activities in three or four informal interviews with Walsh’s investigators, the sources said.
He has not yet appeared before the federal grand jury that Walsh has convened, a source said.
Under the agreement, Owen cannot be prosecuted on the basis of information he gives to Walsh’s office and the grand jury or leads derived from the information.
He could, however, be subject to prosecution based on evidence obtained independently by Walsh.
Owen told the Iran panel last May that he delivered CIA maps to the contras and helped cash thousands of dollars in traveler’s checks North received from contra leader Adolfo Calero.
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