Why Al Gore did not tell Congress about Russia’s nuclear dealings with Iran

Republicans are questioning why Al Gore did not tell Congress about Russia’s nuclear dealings with Iran, after Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin informed the vice president about them in 1995. Yesterday, John Czwartacki, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, told ABCNEWS the Senate was considering launching an investigation into the matter, after a December 1995 letter from Chernomyrdin to Gore on the subject was made public today in the Washington Times. “Hearings are under active consideration and the subject of serious discussion,” Czwartacki said. Another congressional aide told ABCNEWS that Capitol Hill Republicans are “planning to hold the administration’s feet to the fire for immediate answers. We want a high-level briefing immediately and if we don’t receive satisfactory answers, we will hold hearings to see if U.S. law was broken by the vice president.” But Gore aides insist there is nothing suspicious about his dealings, and question the timing of the disclosure.