Gingrich Faces a Reprimand Only in House Ethics Inquiry

The House Ethics Committee Wednesday cleared House Republican Whip Newt Gingrich of Georgia of major charges but decided to admonish him for two relatively minor infractions, an informed source said.

After sending a letter of reprimand, the committee will drop its investigation of Gingrich, the second-ranking GOP member of the House, who filed the original charges that led to the resignation of Speaker Jim Wright last year.

The panel agreed to admonish Gingrich for failing to report purchasing a home with his daughter on his required annual financial disclosure form, the source said, and to chide him for allowing a senior citizens’ group to make use of his congressional mailing privileges.

The complaint said Gingrich should have listed the home as an asset and the $77,800 mortgage as a liability.

On the main allegations involving a $105,000 fund to promote a book written by Gingrich and two others, however, the panel absolved the Georgia lawmaker, the source added.

Gingrich, a firebrand conservative before he won his leadership post by a single vote last spring, could not be reached for comment on the decision.

Rep. Bill Alexander (D-Ark.), who filed the charges against Gingrich, told a reporter the Ethics Committee has decided to drop its investigation but criticize him for not disclosing the home sale.

Alexander said it was a “practical resolution” of the case, although the outcome effectively dismissed the heart of his charges against the GOP leader.

Committee Chairman Julian C. Dixon (D-Los Angeles) and Rep. John T. Myers (R-Ind.), the ranking GOP member of the panel, were expected to announce the findings today.

The committee met behind closed doors for several hours Wednesday but did not announce any decision in the Gingrich case.

Alexander began the inquiry last April by charging that Gingrich violated House rules and federal campaign financing laws by operating a limited partnership in 1984 to promote his book, entitled “Window of Opportunity.”

Twenty-one persons--including some of Gingrich’s political backers and others with an interest in legislation--put up $5,000 apiece for book advertisements and Gingrich’s travel on behalf of the book.

Gingrich’s wife, one of two other co-authors, was paid $10,000 to run the project.