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By RONALD J. OSTROW and ROBERT L. JACKSON Globe-Democrat-Los Angeles Times. News Service WASHINGTON — Breaking a long, self. imposed silence, FBI Director William H. W ebster has strongly defended the FBI's controversial Abscam investigation and has made clear that he would use the same undercover tactics again, if necessary. With firmness and occasionally some heat, Webster said that “we will always follow our leads.” And he dismissed allegations that the investigation, which resulted in the conviction of seven, ‘congressmen on bribery and att Mi somehow trapped innocent men. ‘ During a 90-minute interview in his office.. Jast week with two Los Angeles Times ; reporters, the FBI chief and former federal. judge from St. Louis offered point-by-point.. Teplies to criticism of Abscam by Sen. Alan Cranston, D-Calif., and others. ; In rapid-fire order, he said that: 7 > The FBI uses “con men” and othery chores ce eee UNE — Ta ; ee message is: “Don’t let anybody stop guilty- ly sleazy so that no one would stick around it except someone who wanted to deal with sleazy people,”” he said. D> Abscam did not set out to investigate members of Congress, but instead began as an attempt to catch art thieves. As the inquiry developed, it moved into other areas and congressmen walked into the net. “we did not select any men,” Webster said..“They were self-selected. They found their way to us.” i > Anyone who listens to the FBI tapes of meetings between public officials and undercover agents will Jearn the extent of the corruption. . ...~ 3 id 2 "tif you hear those tapes, you get some oo ~ ae an, around the ratklands declared by Britain last Monday. eazy,’ FBI director says ‘idea of how blatantly corrupt those discussions were. There wasn’t anything coy shout theas ee Pe > Through letters, the public has let the FBI know that it wants the bureau to "Continue investigating corruption in high * places, “The message is: Don’t let_anyboy stop you,” Webster said. In the Abscam case, which resulted in the convictions of Sen. Harrison A.. Williams Jr., D-N.J., who resigned March 11, six House members and 11 others, FBI agents posed as representatives of a fictitious Arab sheik who was willing to pay cash for legislative favors, including help in gaining permanent entry into the United States. Webster said he had been “necessarily constrained” until now in discussing the extraordinary investigation. But with the completion of virtually all ,, trials, and as House and Senate committees prepare for inquiries into the methods used in Abscam, he said he felt free to talk about how the bureau managed the investigation.