Abscam

Abscam (sometimes ABSCAM) was a US political scandal in 1980. An FBI sting operation led to the arrest of members of Congress for accepting bribes.

Related Topics:
US - Political scandal - 1980 - FBI - Sting operation - Congress - Bribe

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The FBI set up "Abdul Enterprises, Ltd." in 1978 and FBI employees posed as Middle Eastern businessmen in videotaped talks with government officials, where they offered money in return for political favors to a non-existent sheik. Much of the operation was directed by Melvin Weinberg, a convicted con artist who was hired by the FBI for that purpose. It was the first major operation by the FBI to trap corrupt public officials; up until 1970 only ten members of Congress had ever been convicted of accepting bribes.

Related Topics:
Middle East - Sheik - Melvin Weinberg - Con artist

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On February 2, 1980 reports surfaced that FBI personnel were targeting members of Congress in a sting operation. The media dubbed the operation Abscam after the name of the company.

Related Topics:
February 2 - 1980

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Of the thirty-plus targeted officials, one senator, Harrison A. Williams, and five members of the House of Representatives (John Jenrette, Richard Kelly, Raymond Lederer, Michael Myers and Frank Thompson) were convicted of bribery and conspiracy in separate trials in 1981. Another, John M. Murphy, was convicted of a lesser charge. While most of the politicians resigned, Myers had to be expelled and Williams did not resign until the vote on his expulsion was almost due. Five other government officials were convicted, including the mayor of Camden, Angelo Errichetti.

Related Topics:
Harrison A. Williams - John Jenrette - Richard Kelly - Raymond Lederer - Michael Myers - Frank Thompson - John M. Murphy - Mayor - Camden - Angelo Errichetti

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The FBI was accused of entrapment and in 1982 the conviction of Richard Kelly was overturned. (He had been memorably videotaped jamming $25,000 into his pockets.) The FBI and the Department of Justice were also accused of having political motivations in the politicians they targeted.

Related Topics:
Entrapment - Department of Justice

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The Abscam model of using a fake front company and concealed recording equipment served as the basis for a number of other investigations during the 1980s.

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