51.   Ruth Messinger, the leading Democratic candidate, reiterated her call for an independent review board to investigate abuse charges.

52.   Republicans bristled at the allegation of Asian-bashing, saying they were just investigating charges of fund-raising improprieties that had already been raised in the media.

53.   Several state agencies are investigating similar charges.

54.   Separately, the SEC is already investigating charges of fraud relating to Merrill activities in both Massachusetts and New Jersey.

55.   She has been kept in the dark about what the administration is doing to investigate her charges.

56.   State Education Commissioner Richard P. Mills has promised to appoint a panel to investigate such charges.

57.   The authorities have been investigating the charges since early June when they were notified by the girl.

58.   The attorney the committee hired to investigate the charges filed a preliminary report last month.

59.   The bishop also wrote that he was investigating charges that Mullins breached confidences during counseling sessions and that he refused to give communion to one parishioner.