Packwood Debate To Begin After Break

The Senate ethics committee will begin debating whether to charge Sen. Bob Packwood with misconduct when the Senate returns from its spring break in two weeks, The Oregonian reported Saturday.

The committee also will decide whether to hold public hearings in the case, or to consider it privately.

Committee lawyers have finished briefing panel members on their two-year investigation into allegations of unwanted sexual advances, intimidation, influence peddling and evidence tampering.

The Oregon Republican denies some of the allegations and refuses to discuss others. An aide to the senator did not immediately return a telephone message Friday evening.

The committee could decide to issue a mild committee reprimand or send the case directly to the Senate floor with a recommendation that Packwood be censured or stripped of his Finance Committee chairmanship.

The six-member panel is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.

“I would hope there would be public hearings because that way the public would have confidence in our decision and confidence in the Senate,” Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., said this week.

The Oregonian quoted an unnamed senior Republican senator as saying that public hearings would degrade the institution and could embarrass some Packwood accusers who have remained anonymous.

She is one of more than two dozen women who have said Packwood made improper sexual advances.

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