Panel asks that House not force Abscam data

The House Judiciary Committee recommended Wednesday that the House reject a move to force the Justice Department to give Congress FBI evidence against eight lawmakers in the "Abscam" bribery investigation. The committee voted unanimously to report against the proposed resolution by Rep. Peter A. Peyser (D) of New York. A vote by the full House is expected next week.

The panel chairman, Peter W. Rodino Jr. (D) of New Jersey, capped an hour of speechmaking against the Peyser request, saying it would hamper criminal prosecutions and serve no useful purpose.