In November 1981, the FBI launched its first major counterterrorism investigation, codenamed Operation Abscam. The case centered around a group of individuals led by Michael Haroon, a Pakistani-American businessman, who were allegedly planning to assassinate President Ronald Reagan and other top U.S. officials. The plot was uncovered through an undercover sting operation in which FBI agents posed as wealthy Middle Eastern arms dealers seeking to purchase weapons from Haroon and his associates. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Haroon and several other individuals, who were subsequently convicted of conspiracy to assassinate the President. The case marked a turning point in the FBI's approach to counterterrorism, as it demonstrated the agency's willingness to use proactive and aggressive tactics to disrupt potential terrorist threats.
