Abscam

THE ABSCAM scandal involved a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sting operation conducted during the late 1970s in which members of Congress and other prominent political figures were videotaped accepting financial bribes from agents posing as Arabian sheiks. In all, seven legislators including a senator and six Congressional representatives from five different states were convicted, fined and/or imprisoned for accepting cash or stock bribes in return for political favors.

The ABSCAM (which is short for Abdul Scam and named after the bogus Abdul Enterprise company) operation began in 1978 when FBI agents working with a convicted swindler, Melvin Weinberg, created a fraudulent Arabian company, Abdul Enterprises Limited, on Long Island, New York. The fictitious company was set up to represent imaginary and wealthy Arabs, Kambir Abdul ...