A Look Back: The Billy Carter Affair

In 1980, the Department of Justice pursued a civil action against William “Billy” Carter, brother of then-President Jimmy Carter, who had allegedly received payments from the Libyan government without registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”). The matter soon raised questions about possible White House involvement, prompting a Senate investigation into Mr. Carter and his relations with Libya.

Mr. Carter’s dealings with Libya began in 1978, during a time when relations between the United States and Libya were strained. The Nixon administration had refused to permit delivery of eight C-130 military transport aircraft Libya already purchased, and the Carter administration had acted similarly, denying Libya the sale of planes and military supplies. Muammar Gaddafi, Libya’s leader at the time, and his advisors sought a connection with an individual close to the White House, hoping to gain the support of the American people and obtain access to the planes they had