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sa . sew Fm re » ews ¥ FD-350 (Rev. 10-18-77) re (Mount Clipping in Space Below) al Nill Mena 5 ‘ebster. Describes ea BSR rman "WASHINGTON api . Defending the, Abscam | ‘probe. FBI. Director William, H. ‘LEGITIMATE PURPOSE’ ebster' s says. it: would: be, ttabsolutély: That ‘mission, he ‘continued, “isa oolish" sor undercover agents to jeopar- legitimate purpose which perhaps only the into taking bribes against their will. cessfully,” Webster said the Abscam investigation, | Webster said a committee of high- ‘level -s-.Congreés, ‘was %the most. saolod” monitored Abscam and other. undercover Traonitored, the 0st ¢ ‘carefilly.controlled”’ probes to assure that investigators did not robe in the bureay's 56-year history.’ ‘éncroach upon individual rights. The director ; smade_ his first: detailed ‘he Websher.asvaskedito respond to aibtic defense e of the Operation in. a half- sBllegationst that the buredu: purposely leak- thour television interview yesterday with "ed detalls of the investigation to the news Carl Rowan, a 1 syndicated columnist and” media. i \ teJevision commentator. by “There is rio basis in fact for that asser- tlon,”“Webster_ said:. oe -deplore these IT'S HIS OBLIGATION" : Notiagthat undercover deents sperétly jeaks EI justSfind itsvery difficult to ideotapéd’ theyalleged bribery“ transac- believe that anyone in the bureau par- ftions, Webster said, “The tilmingof those if However, he said, ““I don’t tule 0 . ut the cenes were for Court purposes: It would be I css that FBI employees were in bsdlutely foolish for a special agent of the Volved in the leaks. He said the bureau is FBI to go beyond Fe EO hein: | cooperating fully with a Justice Depart: jeopardize . the ‘integrity “0 ‘ment inquiry to track down the source‘of Estigalion, a “4 * 4, <~'the leaks. { “He knows ies 5 Boing te io bei incourt;and Any FBI employee found tobe Fesponsi; It's’ “his obligation io make that:a good” “Ble Wilt be otseverely. alseipinds. Web- “Some menibers of: Cotigress, including : ister said. na severat who were never touched iby y the in- ine vestigation, ¢ contend that ‘the: undercover agents were “trying: to lure | unwitting * politicians into a bribery trap. Jor Connecticut, “took chargeoft theinternal “probe “yesterday, He-declared.. that hé might subpoena news reporters 2 ane their notes if-that action | became. 2 Necessary.to -Perhaps the-strongest- -dénunciation came from Rep. John Seiberling, D-Ohi6, wack dain ihe person who dfsclased in- who, said he continued use of undercover pes Me Attorney, General ‘Benjamin - Civiletti investigations means that.““the FBI” can assigned, 4 Blumenthal fo the case. " targetanyone,.. findanyone’ “sWeakness.”* . “{ don't buy that argument: Webster: “Icis ni not-our: present. intention ‘to sub- a 3s ete: ~poena reporters. or notes; but’ ‘We are not “We are not permitted, ‘and would not, foregjosing any method of Jnvesttzation target anyone simply to get them. We are te u ing t at one,” Blumenthal told a Interested incriminality. Whatwéuretry-j ews conference. ing to do is identify the people who betray __... -Utheir_trust,. and betray.the trust.of.the > -- 7 oe American people, by theuse of their office j to enhance the pocketbooks of the white- collar criminal and the greanlzed crime dizé such invéstigatigns by luring suspects FBI in|the United States can do suc+ me Which has. implicated eight members of FRY and Justice Department ,officials}- ‘Richard Blumenthal, -ttie. U. Ss. Jattotiiey . | SEAF HED ~~ worn (Indicate page, name of newspaper, city and state.) Page 2 "Richmond News Le ader" Richmond, Va. Date: 2/13/80 Edition: Evening Title: ABSCAM Character: _ or 8715542. Classification: Submitting OfficeRichmond INDEXED ga FBtI/DOJ