Wright’s ‘Prosecutor’ May Take On Gingrich

The Chicago lawyer who spearheaded an investigation of former House Speaker Jim Wright said today that he has discussed playing a similar role in an Ethics Committee probe of GOP Whip Newt Gingrich, who spearheaded the drive against Wright.

“I hear those rumors. I wouldn’t deny the rumors,” Richard J. Phelan said today when asked whether he had been contacted by the committee.

The panel meets Thursday to consider a formal complaint filed by a House member last April alleging that the Georgia Republican violated House rules in forming a partnership to promote a book he co-authored. The committee’s decision to contact Phelan seemed a signal that it intends to proceed with an investigation of Gingrich, who filed the complaint that led to Wright’s resignation.

The panel could vote to initiate a preliminary inquiry against Gingrich, known for his biting attacks on the House Democratic leadership.

“There’s been a lot of discussion in Congress about whether I would do it or not,” Phelan said. “We will have to leave that up to the chairman (Julian C. Dixon (D-Calif.)) or ranking member (John T. Myers (R-Ind.)).

A complaint filed in April by Rep. Bill Alexander (D-Ark.) said Gingrich may have violated the rules when 21 investors contributed $5,000 each to promote “Window of Opportunity,” a book written by Gingrich, his wife and a third author. Gingrich has denied wrongdoing in the 1984 formation of the “COS Limited Partnership” that promoted the book.

The COS Limited Partnership was unusual because promotion of a book is usually financed by the publisher. Gingrich has said he believed that the partnership could use a large publicity budget to give him a best seller. Instead, sales of the book were modest and there were no profits for investors, who got tax write-offs instead.

Gingrich’s wife, Marianne, received a $10,000 payment in 1984 for setting up the organization, and later was given a 2% interest in the partnership and a $1,500 payment for her work as general manager of COS Limited, according to records released by the couple.