The Justice Department has said it will investigate reports that Republican Congressional leaders attempted to bribe Republican Congressman Nick Smith of Missouri on the floor on Congress last month in order to win his vote to overhaul Medicare. Smith held out in supporting the Medicare until the last hour. Last week Smith repeatedly said he was bribed and threatened but now as an investigation seems imminent he now claims he wasn’t. In a November 23 newspaper column he wrote “Bribes and special deals were offered to convince members to vote yes.” Then Smith, who is preparing to retire, said in a radio interview that Republican leaders promised to give $100,000 to his son’s campaign for his seat.