Gingrich Never Fined for Ethics Violations

[pegwinn]

I love this. He was overwhelmingly found to be ethics deficient by his own party. He paid 300K. But, it wasn't a fine and no wrongdoing was admitted. Looks like a lawyer trick and funhouse mirrors. NO ONE would fork out that kind of green if they were not guilty and the payment was even in the neighborhood of optional.

Newsmax, the current GOP shill, hath stated the following (just a teaser, you will be clickin da linkage to read it all) (http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/gingrich-refutes-ethics-fine/2012/01/25/id/425485?s=al&promo_code=E044-1)



Associates of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich are stepping forward to rebut accusations from Republican presidential rival Mitt Romney that he resigned in “disgrace” and paid an ethics “fine.”

Gingrich insisted during a candidates debate Monday that reports he was fined $300,000 for House ethics violations are inaccurate and records back up his claim the payment was not a fine.

A Newsmax examination of the House Ethics Committee report, and the record of the House debate in January 1997 as recorded in the Congressional Record, supports Gingrich’s contention that the $300,000 he paid was a “reimbursement” or “sanction” related to legal fees, but not a fine or admission of any wrongdoing.

Read more on Newsmax.com: Gingrich Never Fined, Ethics Violation, Ethics Probe (http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/gingrich-refutes-ethics-fine/2012/01/25/id/425485?s=al&promo_code=E044-1#ixzz1kW4BSRdJ)
Important: Do You Support Pres. Obama's Re-Election? Vote Here Now! (http://polls.newsmax.com/repeal/?PROMO_CODE=B683-1)

[ConHog]

I love this. He was overwhelmingly found to be ethics deficient by his own party. He paid 300K. But, it wasn't a fine and no wrongdoing was admitted. Looks like a lawyer trick and funhouse mirrors. NO ONE would fork out that kind of green if they were not guilty and the payment was even in the neighborhood of optional.

Newsmax, the current GOP shill, hath stated the following (just a teaser, you will be clickin da linkage to read it all) (http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/gingrich-refutes-ethics-fine/2012/01/25/id/425485?s=al&promo_code=E044-1)

It was a sanction but not a fine? Hmmm, what's the difference?

[jimnyc]

"IF" it were related to legal fees, $300k can be run up rather quickly by an expensive legal team representing a politician. I'd love to know the specifics of course. I thought I read earlier today that Nancy Pelosi stated the entire thing was public information. Does anyone have a link to this ethics committee inquiry? There's little doubt that he fucked something up though, or he wouldn't be expected to "reimburse" legal fees.

I'm going to look for what I can too...

[jimnyc]

Here is apparently what has been released out of the investigation. Haven't even started reading this yet but figured others might find it of interest...

http://ethics.house.gov/committee-report/matter-representative-newt-gingrich

[chloe]

http://ethics.house.gov/committee-report/statement-committee-standards-official-conduct-regarding-complaints-against

[jimnyc]

Before I even looked at the PDF's, I read the Wiki entry about this. 84 total charges were brought against Newt. All but one were eventually dropped.


The last three charges were dropped because although it was found that he had violated a House rule in the past, there was no evidence that Gingrich was still violating it at the time of the investigation.[66] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newt_Gingrich#cite_note-curtawapo-65) The one charge not dropped was a charge of claiming tax-exempt status for a college course run for political purposes. In addition, the House Ethics Committee concluded that inaccurate information supplied to investigators represented "intentional or ... reckless" disregard of House rules.

Interesting that such an exhaustive inquiry ended up with one charge in the end. There's got to be nearly a 1,000 pages in the inquiry. I wonder why they dropped so many charges? It definitely appears to be all kinds of lobbyist crap going on, and I'm sure that's where the violations came from (as per the PDF's of the inquiry).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newt_Gingrich#Ethics_charges.2C_reprimand_and_fine

[OCA]

Jimmy my problem with Newt isn't with these etics violations but because this sumbitch reminds me of Bubba Clinton minus the ability to reduce a deficit.



http://www.realchange.org/gingrich.htm

[jimnyc]

Jimmy my problem with Newt isn't with these etics violations but because this sumbitch reminds me of Bubba Clinton minus the ability to reduce a deficit.



http://www.realchange.org/gingrich.htm

Some would say that Gingrich was the very reason for a balanced budget in the 90's...

[logroller]

His lawyers screwed up apparently, adding cost to the investigation. What's $300k get you in Congressional time...a few days to a week I'd guess. Though that's probably the energy it takes anyone else to make a phone call. Just more evidence of government bloat and inefficiency.

[ConHog]

Some would say that Gingrich was the very reason for a balanced budget in the 90's...


it was the fact that both Clinton and Newt set aside political ideology and hammered it out. FACT. And Newt absolutely, positively deserves his share of the credit for that.

I just feel he's had his chance to lead this country and it's time to go another direction. As I said though, I will hold my nose and vote for him if he's the republican representative.

[fj1200]

Jimmy my problem with Newt isn't with these etics violations but because this sumbitch reminds me of Bubba Clinton minus the ability to reduce a deficit.

Congress is the one that did it. They control spending.


Some would say that Gingrich was the very reason for a balanced budget in the 90's...

Troof.


it was the fact that both Clinton and Newt set aside political ideology and hammered it out. FACT. And Newt absolutely, positively deserves his share of the credit for that.

Clinton set aside ideology? After getting his ass handed to him in '94 his ideology was get reelected.

[gabosaurus]

Newt is more guilty or moral violations.
Why were folks so pissed about John Edwards, but not about Newt?

[Abbey Marie]

Some would say that Gingrich was the very reason for a balanced budget in the 90's...

And some say it was a political witch hunt that didn't produce much fruit. :angeldevil:

[ConHog]

Congress is the one that did it. They control spending.



Troof.



Clinton set aside ideology? After getting his ass handed to him in '94 his ideology was get reelected.

Absolutely correct, after the 94 election Bubba said "shit, the people want something different and I want to keep my job, so hey Newt let's work this out" and Newt did.

If you don't think Clinton had anything to do with it, then you're as foolish as OCA claiming Newt didn't have anything to do with it. And there is nothing wrong with a politician being motivated by the fear of losing their job to change what they are doing. That's how it's supposed to work.

As an aside, I couldn't understand why in '08 Hillary didn't come out and say "If nominated Bubba will be my vice presidential running mate" That would certainly have bought her a few votes. Maybe enough to overcome the Great One.

[fj1200]

Absolutely correct, after the 94 election Bubba said "shit, the people want something different and I want to keep my job, so hey Newt let's work this out" and Newt did.

If you don't think Clinton had anything to do with it, then you're as foolish as OCA claiming Newt didn't have anything to do with it. And there is nothing wrong with a politician being motivated by the fear of losing their job to change what they are doing. That's how it's supposed to work.

As an aside, I couldn't understand why in '08 Hillary didn't come out and say "If nominated Bubba will be my vice presidential running mate" That would certainly have bought her a few votes. Maybe enough to overcome the Great One.

I prefer my politicians have beliefs that they vote for, not naked self interest. I thought you would have felt the same way given how you believe (iirc I've debunked that already) that politicians are bought by lobbyists. But yes, "Bubba" gets credit for signing much of the Congressional legislation even he did need to veto some things three ;) times.

Anyone who is ineligible to be POTUS can't be VPOTUS.


But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.

I thought a COTUS scholar would know that. Or is that one allowed in the 10th? :poke: