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ABSCAM — Part 8

57 pages · May 08, 2026 · Document date: Apr 22, 1982 · Broad topic: Politics & Activism · Topic: ABSCAM · 57 pages OCR'd
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TS meee “ Oe ex-congress By ROBERT COHEN . WASHINGTON — A federal judge, > call ks FBI's Abscam political cor- Se" ghat. took Tuption investigation “repugnant” and ~ corrupt overture “outrageous,” yesterday threw out the mer Rep. Richard Kelly of Florida. _edersey, Sen, Harrison. A. Williams Jr.and.__ the the FBI operatives violated Kelly's rights by repeatedly trying to corrup him after he initially turned down a bri offer. - . “Te after an illegal offer is made, the subject rejects it in any fashion, the g0V- man claimed he stuffing $25,000 ernment cannot press on,” Said U.S. Dis- investigation when he accepted the trict Court Judge William Bryant. Bryant, in his 25-page opinion, said . (Please turn to Page 4) ° (Continued from Page One)” . . : we bribe. Bryant acknowledged this defense was “bizarre” and “nearly farcical,” but - he said the conviction cannot stand and - the indictment must be dismissed be- - cause of the “offensive” actions by the’ undercover agents. ‘ The judge, in addition, ordered a new trial for Kelly's co-defendants, Eugene“ 49g9, but ‘the entire US. Third Circuit - Robert Ciuzio and Stanley Weisz. __,. Defense attorne sin the Abscam cases yesterday hai ed the ruling,-and suggested it will assist them in convinc- ing other judges that the FBI violated the. rights of the defendants. George Koelzer, the attorney for Williams, said the decision “reinforces _Abscam guilt of” Star-Ledger Washington Bureau = «© = CaSe WaS “constitutionally impermiss!- . ble” and was “nothing short of outra- : ° tae e judge said he found the entire bribery and conspiracy conviction of for- Abscam technique of testing the virtue of Te decision, which could be used to ff ican to Be rare tobe use a bolster the legal appeals of former New ever, Bryant said, they must not exceed | other convicted Abscam defendants, said Kelly th fundaris’ on Jan. 26, 1981, by a jury that watched videotapes of him and telling undercover agents, “It’s a deal.” he former Republican congress- Te . feet wT s geet ergata ee A f the “pursuit and pres- place after the first was rejected. in cash into his pockets was conducting his own ae: Richard Kelly ‘Pursued ‘by FBI '*. Prior to Bryant's decision, the gov- - ernment had been successful in fending _ off challenges ‘to the Abscam “sting” - operation, which involved undercover agents who posed as Arab sheiks willing to pay bribes for official favors. : . . US. District: Court Judge John P. __ Fullman voided the Abscam convictions :* of two Philadelphia city councilmen in . N Court of Appeals later reinstated those “~ convictions and gave its sanction to the © ° government's conduct. ~ °°.” __.... In his decision. yesterday, Bryant “said operations like Abscam have no place inlaw enforcement. ; He said the sole objective of the Ab- " our belief that we have always held, that ‘scam probe was to test the “virtue” of ultimately Sen. Williams will be vindicated.” - “members of Congress who had no reason to be suspected of criminalconduct. Justice Department spokesman Tom - «Government agents, hard about the. Stewart said there is a “strong presume tion” the government wil appeal Bryant’sruling.: ; - ~~" Besides Kelly and Williams, five other members of Congress, including former New Jersey Rep. Frank Thomp- son, were convicted in the Abscam probe Former Camden Mayor Angelo Err, chetti and a number of other pubiic offi- cials also were convicted as a result of the investigation. All are appealing their business of corrupting public officials “who are free of suspicion, essentially subvert our government; and, on its face, this presents an unwholesome specta- cle,” teelgs “This is particularly Cc true in the Kelly case. ra neh ra | Fceaasht is “46 prevent gfime-e criminals’ ‘ said Bryant. “Conversely, law en. orceéd) ment exceeds its bounds when it monifantirac and ereatec eriminalc”
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