Ethics Panel Drops Daschle Complaint

The Senate Ethics Committee unanimously dismissed a complaint Thursday that Democratic leader Thomas Daschle - acting on behalf of a friend - improperly tried to reduce safety inspections of government-hired air charter services.

A complaint filed last April sought the investigation, alleging that the South Dakota Democrat improperly contacted government officials on the friend’s behalf.

The investigation was requested by the widows of three government doctors who died in the 1994 crash of a plane in Minot, N.D., from a charter company owned by a friend of the senator.