Sen. Cranston Probe
Perhaps the only good thing to come of the circus-style Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings is that fresh public attention may force the Senate Ethics Committee to some conclusive action against Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif.). Cranston’s blatant influence-peddling may be accepted as normal business in the Senate but in this case resulted in an outright catastrophe. An appropriate punishment (expulsion from that body) would serve as a deterrent to many public officials, at least for a while. I am delighted to see that previous attempts to sweep this embarrassing episode under the carpet may turn into a more earnest examination (“Senate Panel Revives Case Against Cranston,” Oct. 18).
DONALD H. GOLD
Beverly Hills
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