resignation In 1981, Williams, a resident of Westfield, New Jersey, at the time, was convicted of bribery and conspiracy in the Abscam scandal for taking bribes in a sting operation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The Senate Committee on Ethics recommended that Williams be expelled because of his "ethically repugnant" conduct. Prior to a Senate vote on his expulsion, Williams resigned on March 11, 1982. Sentenced to three years, he served two years in Federal prison as Inmate #06089-050, the first time in over 80 years that a senator had spent time in prison. Williams was also fined $50,000. Released on January 31, 1986, he served the remainder of his sentence at the Integrity House halfway house, where he later became a member of the board of directors until his death. He also attempted to receive a presidential pardon from President Bill Clinton, but his request was denied. The Metropark train station had been renamed Harrison A. Williams Metropark Station in 1979, in recognition of his support for its construction. However, the name was removed from the station after his conviction. Williams died of cancer and heart ailments at St. Clare's Hospital in Denville, New Jersey, on November 17, 2001, at age 81. He was a resident of Bedminster Township, New Jersey. See also List of American federal politicians convicted of crimes List of federal political scandals in the United States List of United States senators expelled or censured References External links |- |- |- |- 1919 births 2001 deaths 20th-century American Episcopalians 20th-century American lawyers 20th-century American politicians Abscam Columbia Law School alumni Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey Democratic Party United States senators from New Jersey Military personnel from New Jersey New Hampshire lawyers New Jersey lawyers New Jersey politicians convicted of crimes Oberlin College alumni People from Bedminster, New Jersey People from Westfield, New Jersey Politicians convicted of bribery under 18 U.S.C. § 201 Politicians convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States New Jersey politicians convicted of corruption Politicians convicted of illegal gratuities under 18 U.S.C. § 201 Politicians convicted under the Travel Act Politicians from Plainfield, New Jersey United States Navy officers United States Navy pilots of World War II