SENATOR SIMPSON'S SECRET

The ethics panel has other fish to fry. Members reportedly have sent Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wy.), one of Packwood's chief defenders, a letter asking how he managed to obtain the statements by two witnesses in its Packwood investigation that he discussed last Thursday on ABC-TV's "Nightline." (One statement said a woman who accused Packwood of sexual misconduct had herself made advances on him.) Simpson, who has accused Packwood critics of leaking unfavorable material, told the Associated Press today that he was simply circulating the "other side" of the story.