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ABSCAM — Part 6
Page 17
17 / 57
rei 51 0: Ho tame eam et trae =e
ee RR ft
F.B.L. Con
Democrat of Califorma,
or
|
| Serstors Alen Cranston,
sh
'y
the case could Jead Cangress to enact &
cherter for the bureau, ts secondary
. "The Williams cese lary to
ithe more {mportant Constitutional
{issue,” esserted Secator Orrin G.
| Hatch, Republican of Uteh and chair-
j ™an of the Constitution subcommittee
of the Judiciary Committee. “Can the
| executive branch, over a prolonged peri.
" od, continue to entice an otherwise boa
est person, wnt] his honesty bresks
down?”
Charges Against Williams
Senator Decals DeConcini of Arizona,
the Democrat on the subcom-
mittee, added: ‘Whatever happens to|
Pete Williams, all of this will very likely’
force the need for a charter and over-|
sight of the F.B.I. It’s lang overdue —|
‘too ”
Senator Willams, a New Jt
cxvicted on nine felony charpes
ont of the investigation. The
ics Co smee Kes reson.
‘See
tor Willigsas and his allies ere
to put the F.B.I. on trial in the
aod use the ostrege erainct the
bureau to bolster his case. At a news
| conference tofay, Mr. Williams eaphs.
Sized the allesation that “for the first
time, tt ara .
Loocye Jotes Attack on F.BI,
Lan night Senztor Daniel K. Ir. aye,
jt i Democrat who fs defending
Mr, Wiltems an the fioor, also ettached
A "s conduct in the case.
“Even with the finest organ'zations,
there art cases that go ewry,” be faid.
“Th: Army had its My Lal; the White
House bad its Watergate, and the F.B.1.
hes its Abscam,.””
Senator Inouye told his collegues
that each one of them was egotistical
and self-important, and vulnerable to
the kind of enticements used in the Wil-
case.
"What will also be shown,” the
Hawaiian said, ‘is that there is a will-
ingness to deliberately set com-
pletely innocent and honorable people.
Sol say that J think it could happen to
anyooeofus.” .
Sees ‘Teinting’ From Expulsion
If Mr. Williams is expelled, Mr.
Inouye asserted, the “Senate {itself will
be tainted” by Bppeari to ratify the
“highly questionable and perhepe ile.
ersey
Democrat, was charged with accepting’
a hidden interest in & titanium mine, ta)
exchange for us’ i uence to ot
tain contracts forthe mine. The whole
Gea] was set up by the F.B.I. as part of}
fits Abscam operation, and Mr. Williams:
gal activities of the F.B.I, agents and
thelr con man assistant.”
Senate leaders have insisted, how.
ever, that the examination of the F.B.I.
should be separated from the Williams
case, and most Jawmakers seem to be
Beceptine thet advice. In stort, they'a
seying that the bait might have be
dsagied iz treat of Mr. Wilisms ir ep
But when the Williams case is
the Senzte seams determined to e
the questions reised by the F.B.T. ac
Sons. And ¢he firrt issue ts whether say
besic, individual rights vere violated by
the operation. -_ cle
As Senstor George J. Mitchell, &
Meise Democrat aad former Federal
Jucge phrased it, “Where is the line bé-
tween the appretrasion of 2 criminal
end the foctering of criminal activity for
ithe purpose of conviction?” oo
Wetch Calis Cast a Landmark, -*
Sevator Hatch pled that the wiilaimes
crise was being eppecled, end e: essed
the hope that the conviction wauld be
overturned on the chie-process gromd,
“This is an important landmark casein
criminallaw,"hesaid. ° bred
The second tesue is whether the F_B-f
violated the rights of the Senate, andthe
separation of powers, by focusing’ #5
operation on members of on
"I think the separation of Si
jenormpously important,” said Senator
Arlen §) T, & Pennsylvania Republt-
can former District Attorney. t'Jo"
have any possibility of a chilling effec
lon the independence of the Senate is-ab
jsolutely appalling.”* .
Mr. S}
government, inch the
F.B.1.,” Senator Specter said. “If we
Jon't have our independence, we don't
save anything.”
The Weshington Post
Dally News (New York) ___
The New York Times _ Q-
The Wal! Street Joumal
The Chicago Tribune
The Los Angeles Times __
The Christian Science Monitor
Date 3:5-82
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