Last week’s decision to drop two key charges against former White House aide Oliver North for his involvement in the Iran-Contra affair sets a dangerous precedent for U.S. government.

The charges—conspiracy and theft—were dismissed because the Reagan administration refused to release secret documents that North’s attorneys said were needed for their defense case.

The charges involve the diversion of funds from secret Iranian arms sales to the Contra rebels in Nicaragua. The drop of the two key charges might impede the ability to convict North, or more importantly, to answer questions remaining about the scandal—particularly questions about the Reagan administration’s involvement in the scandal.

After several months of investigation and thousands of dollars spent, the public still has no knowledge of what really happened or who was responsible. The failure of the Contra hearings to turn up these answers serves only to shake confidence in U.S. government.

Several charges remain against North, but these are less likely to turn up answers. It also is probable that similar charges will be dropped against other key persons in the Iran-Contra affair, including John Poindexter, North’s immediate superior.

The dismissal of charges sends a message that government officials are free from guilt if they cloak dishonest actions behind “national security issues.”

If prosecuted, government officials merely have to threaten to disclose national secrets, and they are free to lie, cheat and steal from the American people. And that’s a frightening message to send.