Nancy L. Johnson: “Mr. Speaker, I rise as chairman of the Select Committee on Ethics to lay before you the committee's bipartisan…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise as chairman of the Select Committee on Ethics to lay before you the committee's bipartisan recommendation for final action on the matter of Representative Newt Gingrich. The committee recommends that Representative Gingrich be reprimanded and reimburse the House $300,000. The penalty is tough and unprecedented. It is also appropriate. No one is above the rules of the House of Representatives. This matter centered on two key questions: whether the Speaker violated Federal tax law and whether he intentionally filed incorrect information with the Ethics Committee. While the committee investigated these questions extensively, its findings were inconclusive. Rather, the committee found that Representative Gingrich brought discredit to the House by failing to get appropriate legal advice to ensure that his actions would be in compliance with tax law and to oversee the development of his letters to the committee to ensure they were accurate in every respect. Each Member of Congress, especially those in positions of leadership, shoulders the responsibility of avoiding even the appearance of impropriety. Representative Gingrich failed to exercise the discipline and caution of his office and so is subject to penalty today.”