◆ SpookStack

By ROBERT COHEN Star-Ledger Washington Bureau Abscam guilt of conduct in the Kelly case was “constitutional impermissi- ble” and was “nothing ort of outra- the government! WASHINGTON — A federal judge, ” a by call Se HBTs Abscam potical ear: Serge cause of he pu ie st Tuption investigation “repugnant” and corry t overture was rejected. “outrageous,” yesterday threw out the e judge said he found the entire bribery and conspirac} conviction of for- abscam technique of testing the virtue of mer Rep. Richard Kelly of Florida. liticans to be personally repugnant.” ‘The decision, which could be used to PP such procedures are to be use bolster the legal appeals of former New ever, Bryant sai of dersey,Sen. Harrison. A. Willams Jr.and... the | they must not exceed other convicted Abscai 7 the FBI operatives violated Kelly's /G sr Rasa aeapsot hm rights by repeatedly trying to crrupl/” stuffing $25,000 in cash into his pockets him after he initially turned down a bri offer. : deal.” “Jf after an illegal offer is made, the 7 ernment cannot press on,” said U.S. trict Court Judge William Bryant. Bryant, in his 25-page opinion, said bribe. Bryant acknowledged this defense was “bizarre” and “nearly farcical,” but he said the conviction cannot stand and the indictment must be dismissed. be- : cause of the “offensive” actions by the *. undercover agents. ‘The judge, in addition, ordered anew trial for Kelly's co-defendants, Eugene Robert Ciuzio and Stanley Weisz. Defense attorneys. in.the Abscam -- cases yesterday hailed the ruling, and suggested it will assist them in convinc- ing other judges that the FBI violated the.. rights of the defendants. George Koelzer, the attorne) for Williams, said the decision “reinforces our belief that we have always held, that ultimately Sen. Williams will be vindicated.” Justice Department spokesman Tom Stewart said there is a “strong presump- tion” the government will appeal Bryant's ruling. - Besides Kelly and Williams, five other members of Congress, including former New Jersey Rep. Frank Thomp- son, were convicted in e Abscam prot Former Camden Mayor Angelo Er chetti and a number of other pubiic offt cials also were convicted as a result of the investigation. All are appealing their loverturned by judge ~ (Continued from Page One) = . =” eenment had been successful in fendin and telling undercover agents, “It’s a « pao! fs fe former Republican congress- subject rejects it in any fashion, the gov- man claimed he was conducting his own investigation when he accepted the (Please turn to Page 4)" Richard Kelly ‘Pursued’ by FBI Prior to Bryant's decision, the gov- off challenges ‘to the Abscam “sting” operation, which involved undercover agents who as Arab sheiks willing to pay bribes for official favors. US. District: Court Judge John P. Fullman voided the Abscam convictions - of two Philadelphia city’ councilmen in 1980, but the entire U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals later reinstated those convictions and gave its sanction to the government's conduct. - . . In his decision. yesterday, Bryant id operations like Abscam have no place in law enforcement. He said the sole objective of the Ab- scam probe was to test the “virtue” of ‘members of Congress who had no reason to be suspected of criminal conduct. “Government agents, hard about the business of corrupting public officials who are free of suspicion, essentially subvert our government, and, on its face, this presents an unwholesome specta- cle,” said Bryant. “This is particularly true in the Kelly case.” ~ ew ha “fT Af ath Ke bof 1S Ls prevent fee Carnal ie said Bryant. “Conversely, law enfor ment exceeds its bounds when it mannfantirac and eroates eriminale