Those trades werern't illegal. The Democrats charged it was against the Boland Ammendment, but the Boland Ammendment only said money from the U.S. treasury could not be used, it did not say about raising money elsewhere. The Democrats looked hard to find money that came from the U.S. treasury but couldn't, but they they charged them anyway hoping nobody would actually read the Boland Ammendment. Unfortunatly it worked with alot of people.
The Reagan admin raised private donations, and sold anti-tank missiles from Israel to Iran to repel the Iraqi invasion (conveniently supplied by USSR and FRANCE), We also were able to secure hostages in Lebanon, and with the money raised we financed the Contra's and enabled them to win their democratic freedom in Nicaragua. A win-win-win situation.
Democratic scandals including offing your political opponents and giving U.S. technology to our enemies, Repubican scandals are trying to defend this county!