‘American Hustle’ renews old questions about Abscam

The story carries a warning that is ominous, yet confusing.

“Some of this actually happened.”

It’s not the kind of opening you expect from a film that purports to explore an important piece of New Jersey history. But such is the beginning of one of the season’s most talked-about movies, “American Hustle.” It could have been called “Jersey Hustle.”

The film purports to tell the story of the Abscam political corruption case of the late 1970s and early ’80s in which federal authorities used a con man, offers of cash bribes and FBI agents dressed as Arab sheiks to snare a series of political figures. They included U.S. Sen. Harrison Williams, Camden Mayor and state Sen. Angelo Errichetti and Rep. Frank Thompson — all New Jersey Democrats.

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