Packwood Waived Rights, Lawyers Say

WASHINGTON — Sen. Bob Packwood (R-Ore.) waited too long to claim that his right against self-incrimination would be violated if he is forced to surrender his diaries to the Senate Ethics Committee, Senate lawyers said Tuesday.

Packwood waived his claim that the diaries could incriminate him “by failing to assert it in a timely manner,” the lawyers said in legal papers.

The committee is investigating allegations that Packwood made unwanted sexual advances to more than two dozen women, intimidated some of his accusers and attempted to obstruct the probe by altering his diaries.

The panel subpoenaed the diaries to determine whether to expand the investigation. The subpoena followed discovery of entries that mentioned a lobbyist’s job offer to Packwood’s wife.

Packwood has resisted the committee subpoena and has challenged it in court. There was no indication when U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Jackson would rule on the diary question.