After dinner, Mr. Savage insisted on going to local night clubs and when the group started out he told the woman to ride alone with him in an embassy car. The volunteer, who was interviewed by the committee, said that once inside the car, Mr. Savage asked, ''Do you have to report back everything we do?'' After the car began moving, she told the panel that Mr. Savage grabbed her by the shoulders and tried to pull her against him, and that at another point he again pulled her against him and forced her to kiss him. The volunteer told the committee that Mr. Savage also asked her to have sex with him. She said he told her, ''You should know that there are rewards to people who give their all to the movement, give everything to the movement.'' Mr. Savage, who is black, was apparently referring to the civil rights movement. The next day, the volunteer reported Mr. Savage's conduct to Bruce Cohen, the Peace Corps country director for Zaire. The Savage case marks the second time in the last four months the committee has suggested a Congressman apologize for making inappropriate sexual advances. In October the panel determined that Jim Bates, a California Democrat, had made improper advances toward two former staff members. The committee directed Mr. Bates to apologize and told him that any further violations ''may result in a recommendation that disciplnary action be considered.''
The House ethics committee has concluded that Representative Gus Savage, a Chicago Democrat, made ''sexual advances'' toward a female Peace Corps volunteer while he was on an official visit to Zaire
PANEL IS CRITICAL OF REPRESENTATIVE
By STEVEN A. HOLMES, Special to The New York Times
Published: Saturday, February 3, 1990
The House ethics committee has concluded that Representative Gus Savage, a Chicago Democrat, made ''sexual advances'' toward a female Peace Corps volunteer while he was on an official visit to Africa last March.
In a report made public today, the committee said it disapproved of the conduct of Mr. Savage and would have directed him to publicly apologize to the woman had he not already done so in a letter.
''The committee clearly disapproves of Representative Savage's actions,'' the panel said in its report. The committee also said it was putting House members on notice that ''future conduct'' of this nature could result in harsher disciplinary action.
Second Case in 4 Months
The Savage case marks the second time in the last four months the committee has suggested a Congressman apologize for making inappropriate sexual advances. In October the panel determined that Jim Bates, a California Democrat, had made improper advances toward two former staff members. The committee directed Mr. Bates to apologize and told him that any further violations ''may result in a recommendation that disciplnary action be considered.''
The two cases have been watched closely by female staff members to see how the ethics committee dealt with the issue of sexual harassment in the male-dominated world of Capitol Hill.
In a speech to a nearly empty House chamber on Thursday, Mr. Savage criticized three Representatives whose complaint led to the investigation. Today, according to The Associated Press, Mr. Savage deleted that criticism from the Congressional Record.
In the speech Mr. Savage denounced the three Democrats who lodged the complaint - Patricia Schroeder of Colorado, Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Matthew McHugh of upstate New York - calling them ''self-appointed guardians of personal morality.'' He did not name them.
In the 19-page report, the committee described the incident during an official trip to Zaire in July. According to the report, Mr. Savage attended dinner at the residence of United States Ambassador and among the guests was the Peace Corps volunteer, whom the committee did not identify.
Insisted on Going to Clubs
After dinner, Mr. Savage insisted on going to local night clubs and when the group started out he told the woman to ride alone with him in an embassy car.
The volunteer, who was interviewed by the committee, said that once inside the car, Mr. Savage asked, ''Do you have to report back everything we do?'' After the car began moving, she told the panel that Mr. Savage grabbed her by the shoulders and tried to pull her against him, and that at another point he again pulled her against him and forced her to kiss him.
The volunteer told the committee that Mr. Savage also asked her to have sex with him. She said he told her, ''You should know that there are rewards to people who give their all to the movement, give everything to the movement.''
Mr. Savage, who is black, was apparently referring to the civil rights movement.
The next day, the volunteer reported Mr. Savage's conduct to Bruce Cohen, the Peace Corps country director for Zaire.
