Gingrich Seeks End to Probe, Sources Say

House Speaker Newt Gingrich has been seeking a negotiated conclusion to the politically charged ethics investigation that has clouded his future, congressional sources said Friday night.

There were indications the case could be wrapped up relatively quickly, although it was not clear what confession of wrongdoing Gingrich might be prepared to make, or whether the full House might be called on to vote a formal reprimand against him.

Nor was it clear what role Democrats were playing in the discussions.

A House ethics subcommittee, composed of two members from each party, has been investigating the tax-exempt financing of Gingrich’s college course. Last September, the panel expanded the probe to include whether the speaker had given accurate statements to investigators.

Tony Blankley, Gingrich’s press secretary, declined comment.

He said he had followed a “long-standing practice of not commenting on the procedures of the Ethics Committee, and I’m going to honor that.”

Several sources disclosed that Gingrich had been represented in recent discussions with the Ethics Committee by his new lawyer, Atlanta attorney J. Randolph Evans; a former Republican House colleague from Arkansas, Ed Bethune; and the speaker’s longtime counsel, Jan Baran.

Precise details of the discussions were not available Friday night.

Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland, point man for Democrats on the investigative subcommittee, contacted Democrats on the full ethics panel during the day, a congressional source said.

The ethics charges have hung over Gingrich for more than two years. Within the full House, they have served as a political flash point for Democrats seeking to discredit the Republicans.

The new Congress convenes on Jan. 7, and the first-day agenda includes election of a speaker. Gingrich has been nominated by his GOP caucus, but associates say he’s eager to put the ethics controversy behind him before then to head off any potential revolt by the Republican rank-and-file.

The congressional sources, speaking only on condition of anonymity, said attorneys for Gingrich and the subcommittee have held negotiations since the panel ended a week of intensive deliberations Dec. 13.