“On July 9, 1987, appellants went to the United States Russell Senate Office Building to attend a joint hearing before the U.S. Senate’s Select Committee on Secret Military Assistance to Iran and the Nicaraguan Opposition and the U.S. House of Representatives’ Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms Transactions with Iran which was being chaired by Senator Daniel Inouye that day.1 Appellants, who lined up at 5:00 a.m. in order to gain admittance to the hearings, planned to hold up a large banner during the testimony of Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North, a presidential aide. The sign read, “Ask about cocaine smuggling.” According to appellants, they hoped their actions would prompt questioning by the joint Congressional Committee members which would bring to the attention of the public the alleged illegal financing of arms to the Contras. Appellants knew they were risking arrest by bringing the banner into the hearing room.”