Navy Officers Face Dismissal in ‘Tailhook’ : Scandal: Top admiral says sexual harassment will not be tolerated. Rep. Boxer says panel will demand firings.

Adm. Frank B. Kelso II said Sunday that some Navy officers will be discharged as a result of the “Tailhook” sexual harassment investigation.

Kelso, chief of naval operations, said in an appearance on ABC’s “This Week With David Brinkley”: “I have had all my flag officers go out and tell the people who work for them that we are not going to put up with sexual harassment.”

Asked whether any officers would be discharged, Kelso said: “I believe so.”

On the same program, Rep. Barbara Boxer (D-Greenbrae), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said that the panel will insist that those responsible be discharged.

Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.), the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said on the same program that the panel might act this week on Navy and Marine Corps promotions held up because of the sex abuse investigation. But Chairman Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) said the committee plans no such action.

About 4,000 promotions were held up when the committee demanded to know whether any of the candidates were involved in the alleged sex abuse at the 1991 convention of the Tailhook Assn. in Las Vegas. Women allegedly were fondled and pinched in a hallway “gauntlet” in a hotel.

“Sen. Nunn and I and our committee members are prepared early this week to move forward on some of the nominations, both senior officers and junior,” Warner said. But he said this will depend on the Navy and Marine Corps listing candidates who were not at the party at which women complained of abuse.

Nunn said after the broadcast: “At our hearings on Friday, it was clear that the committee is not prepared to act on any of the pending flag and general officer nominations until the department has made a more substantial response on the more junior officers.”