Explain how members of the Reagan administration acted illegally to sell arms to Iran and aid the Contras in Nicaragua. In a paragraph, give reasons for and against these actions, and evaluate their impact. Write in 3-5 sentences and write like a student

Members of the Reagan administration acted illegally by selling arms to Iran and using the proceeds to fund the Contras in Nicaragua. This violated the Boland Amendment, which prohibited the US government from providing military assistance to the Contras. The justification for these actions was to secure the release of American hostages in Lebanon and to support anti-communist forces in Nicaragua. However, these actions damaged US credibility and eroded public trust in the government. The Iran-Contra scandal led to multiple investigations and indictments of officials involved, highlighting the unethical and illegal nature of their actions.