◆ SpookStack

ly. Honesty, integrity, truthfulness and sincerity are . i fore, is probably even more difficult than detecting drug - offenses. ' Some would say, however, that mere difficulty of detection does not create a need for undercover, infiltrat- ing tactics such as were used in Abscam. More is needed, specifically a serious harm to society, and there are those . who would argue that bribery and corruption in our public . officials should be viewed with a tolerant "boys will be boys" attitude. This argument the court rejects categorical essential qualities for effective leadership in our society. Tolerance of corruption has no place here. The cynicism and hippocracy displayed by corrupt officials, pretending to serve the public good, but in fact furthering their own private gain, probably pose a greater danger to this country than all of the drug traffickers combined. Corrupt leaders not only betray .their constituents, but ‘also contri-_ bute to a moral decay in American society that many view as the forerunner of economic, political and social disaster. This court believes that the great majority of government officials, including those in Congress, are honest, hard-working, dedicated and sincere. However, the government needs to have available the weapons of under- cover operations, infiltration of bribery schemes, and "sting" operations such as Abscam in order to expose those