WASHINGTON, D.C. : Bid to Widen Probe of Gingrich Rejected

The House voted 229 to 170 to turn away a Democratic attempt to broaden the scope of a special counsel’s investigation into Speaker Newt Gingrich’s activities. The House refused to instruct its Ethics Committee to provide counsel James M. Cole with additional allegations that Gingrich (R-Ga.) used tax-exempt foundations to further his political agenda. Gingrich has previously denied using such foundations for political purposes. The latest push from the Democrats was prompted by a Los Angeles Times article suggesting that Gingrich used six nonprofit foundations for partisan purposes. Federal law prohibits partisan activity by such tax-exempt groups.