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* ae em at ee om a” ae 4 tue FD-350 (Rev. 10-19-77) (Mount Clipping In Space Bolow) Authorities Give Clues. To Anatomy of ‘Sting’ . a rs (C) New York Times Service | WASHINGTON — The political bribery scan- ‘dal that broke last weekend created a sensation “notonly because eight members of Congressand ‘several other public officials were involved but ‘also because the federal government employed ‘a highly unorthodox investigative technique. {| Federal agents posed as Arab sheiksand their associates, rented lavish homes and hotel suites jana spent large sums of money to create a climatein which theoff iciatscouldbeinduced to jtake bribes. This technique, called a ‘‘sting’” operation, {has worked successfully for, local police forces ‘Of a much smaller scale. _ ,But the method had never been employed ina’ shighly publicized political corruption case, and areeet ee seme ee urns wee itsuse in this latest affair has raised anumberof questions. How, for example, did the investigation begin? Why was the “sting” method used? How were the targets of the investigation selected? Had the investigation run its course by the time — the details were disclosed? Why would law en- forcement authorities disclose information on an investigation to reporters before it was presented to a grand jury? What follows, based on interview with law en- forcement officials and other authorities, are the answers to those questions: _...HOW DID the investigation begin?2. “_ ... It began, as so many investigations haveover “| Date: (Indicate page, name of newapaper, city and state.) Pages A1&2 ‘WRichmond Times- jp... Dispatch" Richmond, Va. || 1 1 | ! f | | 2/8/80 “Edition: MOTHINE ~ Title: ABSCAM Character: or 87-15542- Classification: Jo Submitting Office: Ri chmond Ww | q\ APO ALlare yo. SERFLIZED