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Justice Department closes case on Packwood
July 23, 1996
Web posted at: 1:00 p.m. EDT
PORTLAND, Oregon (CNN) -- The U.S. Justice Department has decided not to prosecute former Sen. Bob Packwood on charges that he altered his diaries to obstruct an investigation into alleged sexual and official misconduct.
Packwood resigned in September 1995 after the Senate
Ethics Committee unanimously recommended expelling him and released more than 10,000 pages of his diary to support its decision. 
(381K AIFF or WAV sound) Packwood, an Oregon Republican, had been accused of sexual misconduct with 17 women, trying to use his influence to obtain a job for his wife, and altering the diary to hide his misconduct.
He was notified last week of the Justice Department's decision not to prosecute in a one-sentence letter, his lawyers said Monday.
"This will inform you that the Public Integrity Section has declined prosecution and closed its investigation of allegations that your client, Robert Packwood, obstructed Congress ... ," the letter read.
Packwood now has a business and political consulting firm in Washington, D.C. He said the investigation was the last unresolved issue from the events leading to his resignation. "The letter just speaks for itself," Packwood said. "It does wrap up everything."
Betty Roberts, a former Oregon Supreme Court justice who helped lead efforts to oust him, said the decision meant little. His resignation had already closed the book on the case, she said.
"What's the point now? Everything's been done. Why go through all that expense of more investigation and a trial?"
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Packwood resigns - September 8, 1995
- Diary excerpts - September 9, 1995
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