Pro-Thomas Writer Subject of Inquiry : The Press: Juan Williams, who defended nominee in Washington Post article, is focus of sexual harassment probe.

Juan Williams, a Washington Post Magazine reporter who wrote an opinion column minimizing the allegations of sexual harassment against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, was at the time the subject of an inquiry by the newspaper into allegations by several female colleagues of verbal sexual harassment, the newspaper said today.

Executive Editor Leonard Downie Jr. and other top editors “mistakenly failed to inform” Meg Greenfield, editorial page editor, about the inquiry before the op-ed article was published in the Post last Thursday, according to a note to readers published in today’s editions of the Post.

The article was subsequently published on the op-ed page in Monday’s editions of The Times.

While Downie knew of the inquiry, which is continuing, he said he “followed the traditional practice of keeping such matters confidential.” Downie said he regrets that he did not read the Williams column before publication.

Williams said Monday night that he wrote the column, which he said was solicited by Greenfield, “before I had any knowledge of any investigation. My journalistic ethics and the ethics of the newspaper were never compromised. . . . The piece was submitted, accepted and edited before any mention was made to me of any allegations of impropriety.”

Williams was told of the inquiry last Wednesday, after he wrote the piece but before it was published. He said he did not withdraw the article, and discussed the issue on television, because it was based on his reporting and “totally unconnected” to the allegations against him.

Williams declined to discuss the allegations, citing the confidentiality of the personnel process. He called himself “a fair and honest journalist who finds himself in a very uncomfortable position.”

Williams’s column, asserting that law professor Anita Hill “had no credible evidence” that Thomas sexually harassed her, has attracted national attention. Williams discussed his views with Peter Jennings on ABC the following morning, and his column was cited approvingly at Senate Judiciary Committee hearings last weekend by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), who called Williams a “great journalist.”

Sources said Downie has ordered Williams not to discuss the Thomas nomination on television until the Post inquiry is complete, saying that Williams’ column has made him part of the controversy.

While no decision has been made on the complaints against Williams, they have drawn strong interest from more than a dozen news organizations because of the televising of Hill’s charges against Thomas, which he has assailed as a “lynching.”

Many women in the Post newsroom said they were upset that Williams was allowed to publish his views on sexual harassment despite the complaints against him by staffers, and some of them strongly complained to Downie.

A frequent contributor to the Post’s Outlook section, Williams is also a television commentator who often appears on CNN’s “Crossfire” and WUSA’s “Inside Washington.” Williams, who is black, has written about having been denounced by some in the black community after criticizing black civil rights leaders and black politicians.

The Post inquiry was triggered two weeks ago after a female employee complained to her supervisor that Williams had made a number of sexual or insulting comments to her. The employee, who asked that her name not be used, said in an interview that she was “really upset” and “really uncomfortable” and began working at another desk to avoid Williams.

Another female employee, who took her complaint to management after the inquiry began, said Williams often commented on her clothes, made sexual comments and asked her out, making her “very uncomfortable.” “I think it’s unfortunate that the column was permitted to run,” said this employee, who is a reporter, “but I’m satisfied the paper is taking the situation seriously.”

While declining to discuss details of the Williams matter, Downie said: “It’s important for everyone who works here to understand that we take sexual harassment seriously.”