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ABSCAM — Part 6

57 pages · May 23, 2026 · Broad topic: Politics & Activism · Topic: ABSCAM · 57 pages OCR'd
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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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