ABSCAM ended suddenly. The February 1980 leaks blew the cover while middlemen were still offering names. Anyone not yet on tape was safe. Critics say that is convenient: an operation that was closing in on more members was shut down by a leak whose source was never named. [1]
Then there is Murtha. On tape he declined the money “at this point” and talked about future business. The House ethics committee voted not to charge him, and its special counsel quit within hours. A colleague who had defended him later wrote that he had come to believe Murtha cooperated only to avoid prosecution. [2]
Some critics go further and say other members, including Republicans, were warned off. We found no evidence of any warning to a member who would otherwise have taken money. [3]
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