New Harassment Allegations Surface in Packwood Case : Congress: Oregon group says at least 5 more women have reported sexual misconduct by the senator. All have so far declined to be identified.

New allegations of sexual misconduct by Sen. Bob Packwood (R-Ore.) emerged Wednesday as a complaint charging that he victimized at least five additional women was filed with the Senate Ethics Committee.

The complaint, filed by the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, brings to 15 the number of women alleging improper behavior by Packwood over the past two decades.

The five newly-reported incidents date from the 1960s to the 1980s, according to the women. No details of the alleged incidents were provided in the complaint.

All five women cited in the complaint have so far declined to be identified and are considering whether to go public with their stories, said Holly Pruett, executive director of the coalition. Pruett called on the members of the Senate committee to conduct a thorough investigation into all of the charges and not give the issue short shrift.

Earlier this week, the committee said it is opening a preliminary inquiry into the sexual harassment allegations against Packwood. The preliminary inquiry, conducted by committee staff members, will aid the panel in deciding whether to proceed with a full investigation of the charges.

Some Oregon womens’ organizations say they are concerned that the panel will hold abbreviated hearings on the matter and administer only a slap on the wrist to Packwood.

“We want to put them on notice that there are far more women out there than have already been identified,” Pruett said.

Charges that the four-term senator kissed, grabbed and tried to undress women against their will first surfaced publicly late last month when the Washington Post reported it had identified 10 alleged victims of his unwanted advances.

Packwood, who apologized if he had caused “discomfort or embarrassment” to anyone, checked into an alcohol-treatment facility on Monday for evaluation of his drinking habits.

His office had no comment on the new allegations, but spokeswoman Josie Martin said: “Sen. Packwood has said that he welcomes the Senate Ethics Committee investigation and he will be cooperating with it fully.”

The charges against Packwood, who was just reelected to a fifth term, have caused an uproar in Oregon and prompted repeated calls by Democratic activists for his resignation.

The Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence established a telephone hot line to allow women who say they have been accosted by Packwood to report the alleged incidents. All five of the new cases stemmed from women who called the hot line.

“These individuals are consulting with family, friends and legal counsel to determine their next steps,” said the one-page complaint signed by Pruett. “We expect that some, if not all, of them will be filing formal complaints with the committee.”

The original 10 alleged victims “combined with the number of calls into our office over a period of just a few days, suggests that there may be other women who have had similar experiences,” the letter of complaint said.

The staff of the Ethics Committee would not discuss the complaint or confirm late Wednesday that it had arrived. But a copy of the complaint was provided to The Times by Pruett, who faxed it to the committee.

Many women here say that, short of Packwood’s resignation, they would like to see detailed hearings, with testimony from some of Packwood’s alleged victims. And they say they would like the committee to wait until next year before holding hearings. By that time, they note, new members of the Senate will have taken office and at least one of four newly elected female senators could be appointed to the committee.