Adams Vows To Complete Legislative Agenda

WASHINGTON - Sen. Brock Adams said today he is determined to carry out his legislative agenda despite allegations of sexual misconduct.

Adams, a liberal who served as transportation secretary in the Carter administration, abandoned his plans to seek a second Senate term on Sunday when The Times reported that eight women accuse him of sexual harrassment and molestation. The women were not identified by name.

"I'm frustrated, I can't do anything about it, so I'm going to pour all my energy into trying to help the people of the state," the Washington Democrat told his staff on his return to the Senate from Seattle.

Despite 31 years in public service, "I can't do anything about character assassination," he said.

"What hurts me the worst is I don't even know who is involved in this," the senator said. "I can see it's carefully planned with malice and forethought, but there's nothing I can do about it.

"I would love to fight the case, but that would mean the state of Washington would be without a senator," said Adams, who had been considered vulnerable politically even before the Times report because of a 1988 allegation of sexual assault.

"I wanted you all to know I was not going to let this continuation of slow-drip-torture character assassination happen to you, my family or to me," he said.

Adams allowed reporters access to the last 10 minutes of his meeting this morning with about 30 staff members.

Meanwhile, there was no wellspring of support for Adams in the Senate yesterday. Nor was there condemnation. There wasn't much official reaction at all.

For those who expected either condemnation of the newspaper reports or praise for Adams' legislative career, there was just silence.

Off the Senate floor - and off the official record - it was another story.

Phone lines for Northwest members of the House and Senate buzzed with reporters seeking official comment and staff members trading unofficial gossip. Adams' office received calls of sympathy and support from other senators and their wives, a spokesman said.

Adams was hit hard in newspaper editorials in Seattle and Tacoma, although only the Journal American of Bellevue has called for his resignation.

So far, only U.S. Rep. Rod Chandler, R-Bellevue, who wants Adams' job, has called for his resignation.

Rep. Sid Morrison, R-Zillah, said he has some concerns about Adams' continued effectiveness, "but I think the judgment call has to be made by the senator himself and the Democratic Party."

Jeff Biggs, spokesman for House Speaker Tom Foley, said it was ridiculous to think someone could be appointed to take Adams' place, organize a staff and get up to speed on legislation in time to be more effective than even a wounded Adams.

Adams and his staff have insisted he still has work to do in the Senate on such issues as removing the Elwha Dam and authorizing fetal-tissue research.

But most speculation about his continuing effectiveness centered on the Northwest's forest crisis.

Adams recently wrote to Sen. Bennett Johnston, D-La., chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, asking him not to allow committee action on a forestry bill sought by the timber industry and GOP Sens. Bob Packwood and Mark Hatfield of Oregon and Slade Gorton of Washington.

Instead, Adams has been working with Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Agriculture Committee chairman, on a bill that would allow much more limited timber harvesting.

Jim Geisinger, a timber-industry leader, told The Associated Press he thinks the accusations against Adams could make it more difficult for him to pass a pro-environment timber bill.

A more direct impact of Adams' status may be felt in the Appropriations Committee.

In an election year, the Democrats were expected to bolster Adams' efforts by sending federal largesse his way in a variety of spending bills. Now, they may decide to help some Democrat who is running for election.

Lynne Stembridge, executive director of the Hanford Education Action League, said Adams' troubles could have a slight impact on appropriations for Hanford cleanup.

But she said the senator no longer is the only member of the delegation who advocates her group's views.

Chandler said his call for Adams' departure was motivated solely by concerns about his ability to represent constituents, not because Chandler felt he could gain some leverage electorally.

"Because of the seriousness of these allegations," he said, "I seriously doubt that Senator Adams will be able to fully focus his attention on those issues that are of utmost importance to the people of Washington."