12 Facts About Abscam

1.

Abscam was an FBI sting operation in the late 1970s and early 1980s that led to the convictions of seven members of the United States Congress, among others, for bribery and corruption.

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2.

In March 1978, John F Good of the FBI's office in suburban Long Island created and oversaw a sting operation called "Abscam", which was initially intended to investigate theft, forgery and stolen art.

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3.

Abscam then introduced Abdul to Senator Harrison Williams, who took the bait.

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4.

Abscam was convicted on the federal bribery charges, for which he served about three years in prison.

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5.

Abscam served the remainder of his term at the Integrity House halfway house, where he later became a member of the board of directors until his death by cancer on November 17,2001.

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6.

Abscam attempted to receive a presidential pardon from President Bill Clinton but his request was denied.

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7.

Abscam served two years before being released, and worked as a consultant in Washington until his death in 1989.

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8.

Abscam was chairman for the Committee on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries.

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9.

Abscam claimed that he was conducting his own operation dealing with corruption and that the FBI was ruining his own investigation.

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10.

Abscam too was videotaped in his encounter with undercover FBI operatives.

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11.

Ultimately, all of the Abscam convictions were upheld on appeal, although some judges criticized the tactics used by the FBI and lapses in FBI and DOJ supervision.

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12.

Some Americans supported the FBI, but others argued that Abscam was an entrapment scenario ordered by a revenge-minded FBI, which earlier had been stung by Congressional inquiries into acts of police brutality and similar widespread abuses.

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