THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 21, 1994 TAG: 9409210435
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DALE EISMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Adm. Henry H. Mauz Jr., the Navy Atlantic Fleet commander whose nomination to retire as a full admiral was threatened by allegations he mishandled a sexual harassment case, will get to keep all of his stars when he leaves the Navy.
The Senate voted 92-6 Tuesday for a four-star retirement for Mauz after several female members dropped a bid to force a new investigation of complaints against him.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., Mauz's most outspoken antagonist, said she was satisfied by promises that the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Clinton administration will study ways to give closer scrutiny to future nominees.
``The best use of my time and energy is not a single nomination, but on bringing about reform and change to the overall system,'' she said.
Without Senate approval, Mauz, 58, would have been able to retire with only two stars. The demotion would have cut $1,275 per month from his pension.
Critics charged that, as head of the Atlantic Fleet, Mauz did nothing to protect a Navy lawyer, Lt. Darlene Simmons, from reprisals by other officers upset with her complaints that she had been sexually harassed by a superior aboard the submarine tender Canopus in May 1992.
The Navy concedes that Simmons was harassed; her tormentor was reprimanded and later left the service. In the wake of the incident, Simmons claimed other officers struck back at her, including having her committed for a four-day psychiatric evaluation in October 1992.
Mauz was several rungs up the chain of command from Simmons, and senators defending him said he acted aggressively on her behalf once he learned of her case.
``Adm. Mauz should be commended, not condemned'' for his actions in the Simmons case, said Armed Services Committee Chairman Sam Nunn, D-Ga. ``He did not simply delegate this matter to a subordinate, which would have been entirely appropriate, but gave it direct personal attention.''
While agreeing to examine the way the committee handles such nominations, Nunn aggressively defended its treatment of the Mauz case. As recently as last week, when new questions about Mauz's actions regarding Simmons were raised, the committee sought and got answers from the Navy, he said.
The committee voted 22-0 in August to support Mauz.
Sen. John W. Warner, R-Va., a senior member of the committee, argued that while closely scrutinizing such nominations, the Senate should consider the interests of military spouses and dependents. After supporting a military member through a long career, they have a right to expect a full pension, he said. by CNB