What was Abscam?

Abscam was a Federal Bureau of Investigation elaborate sting operation that took place in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Abscam initially targeted trafficking in stolen property but later became a public corruption investigation and led to convictions of a number of prominent politicians, according to a JRank article.

When the investigation became public in the early 1980s, and during the many trials, ethical controversy focused on the use of the sting technique and whether the FBI's actions amounted to entrapment. Ultimately, all of the Abscam convictions were upheld on appeal, although some judges criticized the tactics used by the FBI, according to the JRank article.