Longtime U.S. Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania died after his large intestine was damaged during surgery, according to his friend.
A Vietnam War combat veteran, Murtha was highly respected among his House Democratic colleagues, including Rep. John B. Larson of East Hartford. He had political enemies, too, for his outspoken comments about the Iraq War during the presidency of George W. Bush.
Details on the surgery are at http://www.courant.com/news/politics/sns-ap-us-obit-murtha-hospital,0,4282192.story
Details on Abscam are at http://www.slate.com/id/2244127/