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i OE Is AG FBI chief defends ee Sentinel Star, wondey Ae 19, 1982 _ tactics of Abscam - ° : ied Angeles Times : : WASHINGTON - — - Breaking a tong, self-imposed , silence, FBI Director William Webster has strongly defended the FBI's controversial Abscam investiga- . tion and has made it clear that he would use the ‘same undercover methods again, if necessary. : With firmness and occasionally some heat, Web- ; ster declared that “we will always follow our leads.” ‘And he dismissed allegations that the investigation, - which resulted in the conviction of seven members of Congress on bribery and other charges, somehow trapped innocent men. During a 90-minute interview in his office, the FBI : chief and former federal judge offered point-by-point replies to criticism of Abscam by Democratic Sen. Alan Cranston of California and other legislators. _In response to the questions, Webster said: 3 2 Please see ABS: TAM, A-6 mA t ‘ ean pint nb sana na Lega dg nent da tne tat nec ben nein sitions tat Late, were os « ce ae ann ee ae eregy sede, Ela. —ABSCAM’ ie ae | tigations because that is ‘what it takes to catch the “guilty. “Abscam was pur- |.posely sleazy so that no ‘one would stick around it, except someone who wanted to deal with slea- zy people,” he said... - .' @ Abscam did not set out to investigate _mem- ‘\ bers of Congress but in- stead began as an attempt § to catch art thieves. As - the inquiry developed, it moved into other areas William Webster and congressmen walked into the net. “We did not ! . e The FBI uses “con "men" and others with h etini- : ; ‘ nal records in such inves- “4 ’ select any congressmen," Webster said. “They were trae self-selected.”. . @ Anyone who listens to the FBI tapes of meet: ; ings between public officials and undercover agents will learn the extent of the corruption. . : 3 “If you hear those tapes, you get some idea of how blatantly corrupt those discussions were. There - an 7 ‘know that it wants the bureau to continue investi: gating corruption in high places. “The message is; . Don’t let anybody stop you,”: Webster said. “victions of Democratic Sen: Harrison Williams of. “New Jersey, who resigned his seat March 11, six . _House members and 11 others, FBI agents posed ag ‘representatives of a fictitious Arab sheik who was "willing to pay cash for legislative favors, including ° help in gaining permanent U.S. residency. s- i Webster said he had been “necessarily con- * strained” until now in discussing the extraordinary ; investigation. But with the completion of all the tri- : als, and as House and Senate committees prepare hrough letters, the public ‘has let the Fat con: | * for inquiries into the Abscam methods, he said he , oo ” now felt free to talk about the probe. + .. Webster hotly rejected Cranston’s contention that ; -Abscam ran “totally out of control.” He said the ». charge, which Cranston made during debate over : Williams’ proposed expulsion from the Senate, was: fos leveled “in a moment of rhetoric and emotion .. of ao * unsubstantiated by the actual fac - we It was when he was asked whether the FBI would: - ever conduct another undercover investigation ‘of: congressmen that Webster said, “The answer is, we - will always follow our leads.”. , - Of the seven members of Congress, including Flor! ida Rep. Richard Kelly, who were convicted of bribs: - ery and other Abscam crimes, one member, Demo?: . ' | eratic Rep. Michael Myers of Pennsylvania, wag. , expelled. Williams and Democratic Rep. Raymond: Lederer of Pennsylvania resigned under threat of ex- ‘+ pulsion and the others were defeated for | re- election. - in” eet ee Lee Nice et ment areas 7 oo ee tek at cee eet 8 tea an : 4 A ;