Former Senator Bob Packwood, Who Resigned Over Sexual Misconduct Scandal, Dies at 93
Bob Packwood, the Oregon Republican senator who resigned in 1995 following a Senate Ethics Committee vote to recommend his expulsion for sexual misconduct and abuse of office, died Saturday at age 93. Packwood served nearly 27 years in the Senate and was known both for his pivotal role in the 1986 tax reform law and as a leading Republican advocate for abortion rights. His death marks the end of a career defined by significant legislative accomplishment overshadowed by one of the most prominent congressional misconduct cases of the pre-#MeToo era.
Bob Packwood, a moderate Oregon Republican who served in the U.S. Senate from 1968 to 1995, died Saturday at the age of 93, according to an obituary released by his family. During his tenure, Packwood was a prominent social moderate and fiscal conservative, best known for championing abortion rights within the GOP and for his central role in brokering the landmark Tax Reform Act of 1986, which lowered the top personal income tax rate while raising the capital gains rate. His career unraveled after The Washington Post published allegations in late 1992 that more than two dozen women had accused him of unwanted sexual advances; a subsequent Senate Ethics Committee investigation widened to include abuse of office and obstruction of the probe, including allegations that he altered his personal diaries. The committee's unanimous September 1995 vote to recommend expulsion — the first such vote since 1981 — prompted Packwood to resign the following day, making him a rare example of a senator departing under direct ethical pressure. Mitch McConnell, then chair of the Ethics Committee, noted that the vote was based on substantial documentation and did not even account for additional credible allegations, including one involving a 17-year-old intern. After leaving the Senate, Packwood launched a lobbying firm, Sunrise Research Corp., which was grossing $1.5 million annually by 1999. Sen. Ron Wyden, who replaced Packwood and now serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said Packwood's documented abuse of women must be the first line of any historical account of his career.
What's missing
Neither source specifies the cause of death or provides details about Packwood's health in his final years beyond his age at death.
How coverage differed
Both Roll Call and ABC News covered the story with similar factual grounding, but ABC News gave more prominence to Packwood's self-described resilience after the scandal and his post-Senate lobbying career, while Roll Call placed greater emphasis on the legislative details of the Ethics Committee proceedings and Packwood's earlier policy record, including his original sponsorship of employer-mandate health insurance legislation.
What different sources said
- Roll CallCenter
Packwood, former senator who resigned amid sex scandal, dead at 93
- ABC News PoliticsCenter
Maverick GOP Sen. Packwood of Oregon, who resigned after scandal, dies at 93
Related
Workers Begin Removing Trump's Name from Kennedy Center Facade After Court-Ordered Deadline
Workers started stripping President Trump's name from the exterior of the Kennedy Center in Washington overnight Friday into Saturday, hours past a court-ordered deadline of 11:59 p.m. Friday. The delay was attributed to nearby thunderstorms, and the Kennedy Center's board sought a 12-hour extension, which U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper had already denied after rejecting the board's last-minute attempt to halt the order. The removal marks a significant legal rebuke of the Trump administration's effort to rename the historic performing arts venue, with a court ruling that only Congress has the authority to change the Kennedy Center's name.
Hasan Piker Campaigns for DSA-Backed NYC Candidates, Sparking Debate Over Democratic Party Direction
Twitch streamer Hasan Piker rallied in Brooklyn for two Democratic Socialist of America-endorsed congressional candidates ahead of New York's June 23 primary, declaring the country is 'closer than ever' to socialism. The appearances come amid a broader debate within the Democratic Party over whether to embrace or distance itself from Piker, whose pro-Palestinian views and provocative statements have made him a polarizing figure. The controversy highlights a growing tension between the party's centrist establishment and its increasingly left-leaning base, particularly on foreign policy.
Fire Rescue Victoria Has Missed Emergency Response Targets Every Year Since 2020, With Outer Suburbs Worst Affected
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) has failed to meet its target of responding to 90 per cent of structural fires within seven minutes and 42 seconds in every year since its formation in 2020, with outer suburban areas recording the worst performance. The shortfall has come into sharp focus following the death of three-year-old Jordan Dashwood in a Werribee house fire this month, where the nearest FRV truck was committed to another incident and the first responders arrived well outside the benchmark time. The findings raise serious questions about whether the 2020 fire services restructure has been adequately resourced to protect Melbourne's rapidly growing outer suburbs.