Home / Series / I Was There / Aired Order / Season 2023 / Episode 1

My Photo Helped Expose A CIA Coverup

In VICE's latest installment of 'I Was There', photojournalist Lou Dematteis recounts photographing the capture of U.S. mercenary Eugene Hasenfus after his cargo plane was shot down in the Nicaraguan countryside. Lou's photograph, along with reporting from his colleagues on the ground, exposed how the American government, including the CIA, was illegally using funds made from selling arms to Iran to secretly fund the Contra rebels in Nicaragua. This became known as the Iran-Contra affair and the resulting scandal led to the conviction and resignation of several Reagan Administration officials, most notably Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North.

English
  • Originally Aired June 6, 2024
  • Runtime 14 minutes
  • Network YouTube
  • Production Company VICE Media
  • Notes Is a season finale
  • Created November 27, 2025 by
    AddingStuffIsFun
  • Modified November 27, 2025 by
    AddingStuffIsFun