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tactics of Abscam C Log Angeles Times, ?. WASHINGTON — Breaking a long, self-imposed ‘silence, FBI Director William Webster has strongly defended the FBI's controversial Abscam investiga- tion and has made it clear that he would use the ‘same undercover methods again, if necessary. : With firmness and occasionally some heat, Web- ster declared that “we will always follow our leads.” — ‘And he dismissed allegations that the investigation, which resulted in the conviction-of seven members of Congress on bribery and other charges, somehow trapped innocent men. During a 90-minute interview in his office, the FBI" chief and former federal judge offered point-by-point replies to criticism of Abscam by Democratic Sen. Alan Cranston of California and other legislators. _In response to the questions, Webster said: ~~ if 2 Please see ABS TAM, A-6 = ~ ~“EBI chief Sse aan The FBI uses “con men” and others with crini- { gating corruption in high places. “The message is? * unsubstantiated by the actual facts.” SPIE EY merges nal records in such inves- tigations because that is what it takes to catch the “guilty. “Abscam was pur- j-posely sleazy so that no ‘one would stick around it, lexcept someone who ‘wanted to deal with slea- zy people,” he said... ‘' @ Abscam did’ not set out to investigate mem- ' bers’ of Congress but in- stead began as an attempt to catch art thieves. As the inquiry developed, it one 7 moved into other areas Willlam Webster and congressmen walked into the net. “We did not | select any congressmen,” Webster said. “They were self-selected.”. = @ Anyone who listens to the FBI tapes of meet ings between public officials and undercover agents will learn the extent of the corruption. “If you hear those tapes, you get some idea of how blatantly corrupt those discussions were. ‘There wase't an rough letters, the public has iet the FBT ow that it wants the bureau to continue investi: Don’t let anybody stop you,”: Webster said. ‘victions of Democratic Sen: Harrison Williams ot “New Jersey, who resigned his seat March 11, sit House members and 11 others, FBI agents posed ag -representatives of a fictitious Arab sheik who wat “willing to pay cash for legislative favors, including ° help in gaining permanent U.S. residency. Webster said he had been “necessarily con- : strained” until now in discussing the extraordinary ; investigation. But with the completion of all the tri- : als, and as House and Senate committees prepare “for inquiries into the Abscam methods, he said he * now felt free to talk about the probe. y «_ Webster hotly rejected Cranston’s contention that | Abscam ran “totally out of control.” He said the .. charge, which Cranston made during debate over Williams’ proposed expulsion from the Senate, was: leveled “in a moment of rhetoric and emotion ot It was when he was asked whether the FBI would: ever conduct another undercover investigation ‘of! congressmen that Webster said, “The answer is, we|” will always follow our leads.”. , 5 Of the seven members of Congress, including Flor ida Rep. Richard Kelly, who were convicted of bribi- ery and other Abscam crimes, one member, Demo!: * > cratic Rep. Michael Myers of Pennsylvania, wag. , expelled. Williams and Democratic Rep. Raymond Lederer of Pennsylvania resigned under threat of ex. ‘2 ulsion and the others were defeated for re- election.