Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 21, 1993 TAG: 9305210112
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Acting without debate or official elaboration, the committee voted 16-0 to approve a motion by ranking Republican Ted Stevens of Alaska to deny requests from 250 Oregon voters for a full investigation into the validity of their charges.
The decision also had the effect of denying the petitioners' request that the committee defer a final decision on the investigation until a separate inquiry into the charges against Packwood by the Senate Select Committee on Ethics is completed.
In their petition to the rules panel, the Oregonians charged that voters were denied the right to an informed vote by Packwood's pre-election denial of charges that he made unwanted sexual advances to female aides and lobbyists over the past two decades and by his alleged attempt to silence the women.
While it has the constitutional authority to investigate allegations of fraud in "elections, returns or qualifications of its own members," the committee said, the Packwood critics' petitions "should not be considered under this power."
In comments before and after the vote, committee members echoed an earlier warning by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., that the case could "open a Pandora's box" of challenges to elections on grounds that voters were misled by statements made in the heat of campaigns.
The committee already has received a complaint seeking to oust a senator who was re-elected five years ago and faces re-election next year, Stevens noted. "That shows you what's in the Pandora's box," he added.
Committee members also questioned the petitioners' argument that Packwood would have lost his election to a fifth term, which he won by 78,000 votes, if his supporters had known in advance of the allegations against him. It is "very difficult to read the minds of voters after the fact," said committee Chairman Wendell H. Ford, D-Ky.
While the rules committee's action closes the books on challenges to Packwood's election, the ethics committee will continue its inquiry into allegations that Packwood violated Senate rules by making improper overtures to the women and attempted to intimidate them from talking to reporters. Packwood has apologized for his actions but declined to say what they were and, through his attorney, denied any attempts to intimidate the women.
The ethics committee, which is interviewing witnesses, could recommend anything from a reprimand to expulsion from the Senate if it finds Packwood guilty of violating ethics rules.
While it takes only a majority vote of the Senate to refuse to seat a member on grounds of election irregularities, expulsion for ethics infractions requires a two-thirds vote. Packwood was seated in January "without prejudice" to the outcome of the rules inquiry - a cloud that presumably was removed by Thursday's action.
by CNB