Word: criden
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...ubiquitous Mayor Errichetti also introduced the sheik's pals to Howard Criden, a relatively obscure Philadelphia lawyer who had made big profits in real estate. When he learned of the sheik's desire to spread his vast wealth, the soft-spoken Criden was far from quiet. He passed the word to four members of Congress, all of whom succumbed to the FBI's sting...
...Congressmen turned up at the FBI'S rented house on Washington's W Street, often with Criden at their side, to learn about the largesse of the second FBI sheik, Yasser Habib, the one who was hoping to find asylum in the U.S. Habib welcomed his visitors under lights so bright that the lawmakers squinted. These lights had been installed to facilitate the secret videotaping, but the sheik's aides explained that he kept them bright because he missed the blazing sun of his homeland. To each Congressman, the pitch was the same: the sheik feared trouble...
...dismay and, indeed, the later disbelief of his colleagues on Capitol Hill, one of the legislators Criden got interested in the sheik was New Jersey Democrat Frank Thompson, 61, a most admired and respected member of the House. Although Thompson was not photographed picking up any cash, Criden accepted a satchel containing $50,000-and, according to Government sources, he was taped saying he was doing so for the Congressman. Thompson's own words of willingness to help the sheik had been recorded earlier...
...middleman expecting to be generously rewarded for his efforts by the sheik, Criden also brought Pennsylvania Democrat Raymond Lederer, 41, Pennsylvania Democrat Michael Myers, 36, and New York Democrat John Murphy, 53, into Abscam. Myers and Lederer were filmed accepting $50,000 each. Murphy, who has been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, was more wary. In an almost comic scene, he sparred with Criden over who would pick up the suitcase of bribe money in a Kennedy Airport hotel; Criden lost, and walked out with the cash. Pennsylvania Democrat John Murtha, 47, went to the Washington house...