Daily Time Capsule

February 2, 1980 - Reports Surface About FBI’s Abscam Operation

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Pete

Pete

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On this day, February 2, 1980, reports surfaced that the FBI had been secretly investigating corruption within the United States Congress. This undercover operation, known as Abscam, involved FBI agents posing as Middle Eastern businessmen offering bribes to public officials in exchange for political favors.

The investigation led to the conviction of six members of the U.S. House of Representatives, one U.S. senator, and several other public officials, making it one of the biggest political scandals of the early 80s. The scandal exposed deep-seated corruption and reshaped public perception of government ethics.

Fun Fact: The operation was initially designed to target stolen art trafficking but quickly shifted to uncovering political corruption when officials willingly accepted bribes. The case also inspired the 2013 film American Hustle, starring Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence.

Trivia Question: Which U.S. senator was the only one convicted in the Abscam operation?
 
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