◆ SpookStack

. ~ were ees r out-of-district-prosecutor was. a severe "slap in the face™ to those in New Jersey charged with investigating and prose- cuting violations of law. i od Once it became apparent that the New Jersey U. S. Attorney's office would play a minor role in these major investigations, Plaza and Weir took a negative view ee ea ar es of everything about Abscam. They acted as if they had convinced themselves that the highest duties of a prosecutor were to manufacture arguments for defendants, to follow an ultra-cautious approach, and to. be skeptical of all 4k new investigative techniques. Throughout their Abscam participation they urged the justice department to move more cautiously and slowly. Indeed, they did not want to move at all until every possible flaw in. the investigation could be meticulously checked. Of course, the government must not infringe the mes constitutional rights of any of its citizens, and New Jer- . _sey's abstract, cautious approach to law enforcement activi- - ties has great appeal in some circles. of government, of law, and of academia. But such hesitation. and caution ls unrealistic in the practical hurly-burly of a fast-moving investigation that would not wait for lengthy reflection, but instead demanded immediate decisions, aggressive atten- tion, and imaginative, courageous responses to rapid, develop- ments. a) 1 ay = © Ore: Se eemad 7 ee eet Sd rms NE NS a ” — eT pee 2A ne SME: epee At ore Lerman ae emia gn rene rin Aere—y en te eteepenneian rer Peter rt mentee een a ymte my seen tamara Mem SN erritapRe ae Ee FICE Annee ore seven mee oy * , + ke INK On, Sircersaeron| te ae Garey