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Weinberg's past conduct and his activities during the Abscam investigation that might be viewed as bearing upon his credibility, defendants have not shown that Weinberg's credibility as a witness at trial had any Significant bearing | on the case, Counsel for the Myers defendants, and those in the Thompson and Lederer trials as well, tried to focus upon Weinberg as the "villain in the piece", following the wei l=known defense tactic of attempting to get the ~ jury to "try" anyone in the courtroom except the defendant himself. When viewed objectively, however, Weinberg's . testimony was used by the government only as‘a framework OES TY Stern Oe for background information and upon which to hang the audiotape recordings that were admitted in evidence. There was ho . | Significant issue at trial over the general background and outline of the Abscam investigation, and while there was an attempt to challenge the authenticity of one or by themselves played no significant role in the focal point ~ of the trial: the scene on the videotape when Myers took the $50,000. | Moreover, even if there were some Significance to Weinberg's credibility at the trial, there was so much material not only available to defendants, but also used mmm nie ae ae by them, to challenge his credibility that the additional items which might have been brought out would at best have. Sameera empemeenntmmnengmscmenier serene Me seme ; two of+the recorded telephone conversations, those conversations _ x t