Parkinson’s Claims Ex-Sen. Adams
Former Sen. Brock Adams (D-Wash.), who retired after one term amid allegations of sexual misconduct, died Friday of complications related to Parkinson’s disease. He was 77.Adams, who also served in the House, spent 1944 through 1946 in the Navy. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1952, he both practiced and taught law. He was then the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington from 1961 to 1964.After his stint as U.S. attorney, Adams was elected to seven consecutive terms in the House, serving from Jan. 3, 1965, until Jan. 22, 1977. Upon leaving the House, Adams moved to the Carter administration, serving as secretary of Transportation until 1979.Adams left politics to resume his law practice until 1986, when he successfully ran against incumbent Slade Gorton (R). He retired at the end of his first term amid allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied. The Senate Ethics Committee opted not to investigate the charges, saying it had no jurisdiction because the alleged incidents took place before Adams served in the Senate.His time in Washington, D.C., was spent “addressing the complex transportation needs of” Washington state, state Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt told The Associated Press. He was also instrumental in “building up the aerospace infrastructure” in the state.