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Memorandum to Director from Legal Counsel RE: ABSCAM 1. Representative Edward J. Patten of New Jersey. Rep. Patten was offered a bribe on one occasion, but Rep. Patten made no response to the offer and never directly indicated that he perceived that a bribe offer was being Made. Rep. Patten is no longer in Congress. - 2.2. Representative John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania. Rep. Murtha, a member of the Committee.on Standards of Official Conduct, was contacted on several occasions. In response to the bribe offer, Rep. Murtha stated he would get back in touch with the offeror. Rep. Murtha never recontacted the offeror, and later testified for the Govern- ment at the trial of Rep. Thompson; and Rep. Murphy. 3. Senator Larry Pressler of South Dakota. Sen. Pressler. was contacted on one occasion. Sen. Pressler is the only Congressman who flatly declined to accept the offer. 4. Representative Peter W. Rodino of New Jersey. Rep. Rodino himself was never personally contacted by FBI representatives, but on several occasions offers for Rep. i¢ Rodino's assistance were made to his bIC Land others. Rep. Rodino later disclaimed all nowledge of any offers being made, and at this point the Government cannot prove the offers were communicated to him. 5. Representative Raphael Musto of Pennsylvania. Rep. Musto was offered a bribe on one occasion and did not accept. 6. Representative James Mattox of Texas. . Rep. Mattox did not accept the offer and later testified as a defense character witness at the trial of Reps. Thompson and Murphy. Rep. Mattox testified that he knew he had been offered a bribe. A review Of applicable statutes and regulations reveals that none of them require the offeree of a bribe to take any steps toward reporting the offer. Title 18, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 201, the general. bribery statute, and Section 203, the section covering compensation