Trouble on the Mia

By Janice Castro

THE SPECIAL SENATE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING THE FATE OF American mias has made little progress in its inquiry into those who prey on families of missing service personnel. Chairman John Kerry promised that the committee would probe possible fraud and corruption by entrepreneurs who collect huge sums from families but have yet to find a live MIA. One reason for the stalemate: ex- Congressman BILL HENDON, who collected tens of thousands of dollars as an MIA activist. Hendon, who should be a subject of the investigation, has been put on the committee staff by Senator Bob Smith of New Hampshire, the vice chairman. Says an insider: "How can we investigate Hendon when Hendon's on the staff?"