Kill the Messenger

In 1996, Gary Webb interviews Ronny Quail, a drug dealer outraged that civil asset forfeiture allowed the government to keep his house even after an acquittal. The confrontation prompts Webb to consider broader abuses of forfeiture and government power. Quail's story anchors Webb's subsequent reporting on how law enforcement and prosecutors handle asset seizures.

Coral calls Webb and agrees to meet after claiming to possess documents that prove government involvement in cocaine trafficking in the U.S. She provides a transcript of grand jury testimony that had been accidentally released to her boyfriend during discovery. Webb agrees to meet and verify the materials, sensing a potential breakthrough.

Coral gives Webb the grand jury transcript, a document normally kept secret. Webb informs the local prosecutor that he has the transcript, pressuring them to respond. In exchange, the government drops charges against Coral's boyfriend to protect their main witness: Oscar Blandón.

Webb deepens his research into Oscar Danilo Blandón and the pending case of 'Freeway' Rick Ross. He discovers that Blandón is a paid informant whose testimony could implicate CIA involvement in drug trafficking to fund Contra activities. The scope of the story broadens beyond local corruption to international intrigue.

Webb travels to a prison in Managua and speaks with Norwin Meneses, Blandón's partner. Meneses corroborates Oliver North's involvement in the drugs-for-guns scheme used to fund the Contras. The interview adds direct testimony about the drug networks tied to U.S. foreign policy.

In Washington, D.C., Webb interviews Fred Weil, a National Security Council investigator connected to the Kerry Committee's work on similar allegations. Weil warns Webb that pursuing the story could put him in danger. The exchange underscores the potential risks of reporting on covert government activity.

Shortly after gathering sensitive material, federal agents summon Webb to a meeting and warn him against publishing what he has learned. The confrontation signals resistance from official channels. Webb is reminded of the personal risks involved in pursuing the story to its conclusion.

The paper runs a three-part series titled 'Dark Alliance,' presenting Webb's findings on CIA involvement in Contra cocaine trafficking. The publication creates an immediate sensation and provokes intense national interest. Webb becomes the focal point for a growing debate about government accountability.

Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and The New York Times publish follow-up reporting that scrutinizes Webb's work but appears deferential to the CIA. The broader media attention validates the story but also raises questions about sources and reliability. Webb sees his reporting treated as controversial and potentially dangerous.

Feeling sidelined, Webb is banished to the newspaper's Cupertino bureau to cover mundane local news. He continues to work on the investigation privately, keeping the broader story alive in his notes and interviews. The move illustrates the newsroom's reluctance to fully commit to the controversial allegations.

Webb is awakened one night by John Cullen, a source with direct knowledge of the scheme. The discovery excites him, but the moment is tempered when the paper reveals plans to publish an open letter casting doubt on aspects of the reporting. The encounter deepens the risk/reward dynamic of pursuing the story.

At a SPJ dinner honoring him as Bay Area Journalist of the Year, Webb submits his resignation to the editors. The moment signals a turning point as the newsroom's support erodes and his own confidence in the viability of the story shifts. The resignation foreshadows the looming conflicts over Dark Alliance.

An epilogue reveals that in 2004 Gary Webb was found dead in his apartment, shot twice in the head. His death was ruled a suicide, a conclusion that left many questions about the pressures and consequences of investigative journalism. The ending casts a somber light on the story he pursued for years.