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ap meee: (2710 North Tucker Boulevard, St. Louis, Mo., 63101. wpe (914) 3421212, | {Executive ter «Managing Bator __ Ete Pope Ee doy 4 | \The Globe-Democrat is an independent 1 : ; Lg ‘ . newspaper prin the news : ” oe ecring whet i behaves to be rah ond oppedng what | : oat - ° Hi t vy - . . ~ . _ “make any defense at all.- © ee _ FBI Director William H. Webster is on solid ground in his defense of the bureau’s ‘Abscam investigation which resulted in the . coviction of seven members of Congress — ’ . one senator and six representatives — on -bribery and other charges. The wonder of it aig that Webster should feel compelled to 2 Bros 2S gE “abscam was someone who wanted to deal with sleazy people.” toe, — Abscam did not set out to investigate members of Congress, but instead began as an attempt to catch art thieves. As the inquiry developed, areas and congressmen and & senator walked into the net. “We did not select any : They found their way to us.” t. _ That's the way it fs, 4 dealing with the likes of Alan 2 *Hberal Democratic senator from California, “and his ilk. Cranston bas criticized the \ Abscam Ynvestigation as improper, , ” eharging that the law enforcers ‘tried “to ir induce members of Congress to ~ Anyone who listens to the FBI tapes of " eeommiit crimes.” Co meetings between public officials and undercover agents will learn the extent of : On the face of it that is absurd, and the Sat i idicul . their corruption. “‘If you hear those tapes, closer one looks’ at it the more ridiculous it you get sorme idea of bow batantly t “pecomes. As Webster makes clear, there : those” those - were. There wasn’t was lal in the hearts of anything coy about .. Webster sa) that, ee hot back at-his critics by that the Abscam © Ceeteiee eo wee oS eine ‘gismissing allegations 1 + investigation somehow entrapped innocent ‘kaow ft wants the bureau to continue 4 men, The FBI chief and former federal - tavestigating or tet a high piace. % "* judge from St. Louis offered point-by-point ~~ you, The Webster anybody 4 “eplies to criticism of Abscarn. In rapid-fire . i _ iprder, he said that: __ eB that no one would stick around it except it moved into other - ww de NFS Ec ee