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a * 4 Memorandum To ’ , e é + wt From subject BSCAM,.,. 72 mar 241082 79 " 1O FER 9 ‘1 o- Mr. Monroe 1 - Mr. Andrews 1982 1 - Mr. 1 - Mr. 1 —- LRU Exec AD Inv. Exec AD Adm. __ Exec AD LES _._ Asst,-Dir.: Kdm;Servs. Criss have 7 Ident. Intell. Laborato fy 2/3/82 «8 Insp 7 Rec, Mgnt. Tech. Servs. —_ Training Public Affs. OH. _ Telephone Rm. __. Director's Sec’y _ @ re ‘Director Date ‘Legal counsel To provide the opinion of Legal Counsel Division (LCD) on the question of whether a Congressman who turns down a bribe offer violates any law by failing to report the offer. PURPOSE? RECOMMENDATION: None, for information only. APPROVED: dm. Servs. Laboratory; Crim. iw. wane oun. . i - OT Gong. : [(P? Director - & Public Afis. Exec. AD-Adm. ident. Rec. Mgnt. Exec. AD-tnv. inspection Tech. Servs. Exec. AD-LES ___ intel. Training SYNOPSIS AND DETAILS: On January 27, 1982, Assistant Director Monroe, Criminal Investigative Division (CID), telephonically advised Assistant Director Mintz, LCD, that the Director requested an opinion on whether there is any law that requires any of the Congressmen who were offered, and refused to accept, fo” A b bribes during ABSCAM to have reported such offers to the EBI pete or Department of Justice. Based upon the facts and law outlined below, LCD concludes that the simplle failure to report the offer of a bribe violates no law. On January 29, 1982, this matter was discussed with sat CID, who provided the following factual background. During the ABSCAM investigation, six Congressmen were contacted by intermediaries and were proffered money in return for the use of their influence to obtain quick entry into the United States for certain b6 foreign nationals. None of the six accepted the bribe bIC offers, but the manner of the refusals varied sligh aA et a ennai teaver When interviewed, none of the Congressmen attempted the fact that a bribe offer had been made. The Co $)-14993 7 involved are: | FBI/DOJ