The House ethics committee said Friday it will investigate one Republican andtwo Democratic congressmen who were named in separate complaints alleging sexual improprieties.
Separately, the Senate ethics committee said it had determined that Sen. David Durenberger, R-Minn., may have violated the law or Senate rules in a book contract.The committee announced that it had voted in secret session Thursday to conduct preliminary inquiries into the conduct of Reps. Gus Savage, D-Ill.; Donald E. "Buz" Lukens, R-Ohio, and Jim Bates, D-Calif.
Bates denied any wrongdoing. Lukens' press aide said the Ohio congressman welcomed "a full and open investigation." Savage, who also has denied wrongdoing, could not be reached for immediate comment.
The ethics panel took no formal action Thursday on an unrelated complaint against House GOP Whip Newt Gingrich, of Georgia, but it has hired a Chicago law firm that will recommend whether to begin a preliminary inquiry.
Meanwhile, Sen. David Durenberger, R-Minn., disclosed Friday that the Senate Ethics Committee has completed its preliminary inquiry of his previously revealed book-publishing contract - and voted to proceed with the investigation. Washington attorney Robert Bennett has een hired by the committee as special counsel to continue the probe, Durenberger said.
In the House, Rep. Bill Alexander, D-Ark., filed a complaint in April alleging that Gingrich committed improprieties in a book deal. Alexander said this week he would file additional allegations later, probably in September. Gingrich has said he did nothing wrong.
Meanwhile, three House Democrats filed a complaint against Savage last month, after news accounts said a Peace Corps volunteer complained the lawmaker fondled her while he was traveling in Zaire.
The ethics panel said it "has been presented with complaints concerning the actions of Rep. Gus Savage while that member traveled to Africa in connection with his official duties and responsibilities in March 1989."
The House Republican Conference, composed of all Republicans in the chamber, asked the ethics panel to investigate Lukens, who was convicted in Ohio on a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the unruliness of a child. Lukens, who is appealing, was sentenced June 30 to 180 days in jail and fined $1,000 for having sex with a teenage girl.
The complaint against Bates was filed last year by two former aides, according to published reports. The committee said it "has been presented with sworn complaints from two individuals against Rep. Jim Bates, alleging that they were sexually harassed by Rep. Bates and that congressional staff and resources were used to perform campaign-related activities."