Why did many Americans get angry about the Iran-Contra Affair?

Many Americans were angered by the Iran-Contra Affair because it involved the covert sale of arms to Iran, despite an arms embargo, and the illegal diversion of those proceeds to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua, bypassing congressional oversight. This breach of trust raised concerns about government accountability and transparency, as it suggested that the Reagan administration was willing to circumvent the law for its foreign policy goals. Furthermore, it highlighted issues of executive overreach and the potential erosion of democratic principles, leading to widespread public outrage and calls for greater oversight of government actions.