On the recordApril 17, 1997
today, Speaker Gingrich is doing the right thing. The reimbursement that he is paying is not a fine. The committee itself makes it clear that the reimbursement of legal expenses are for costs only. The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct imposed no restrictions on how the reimbursement could be paid. Speaker Gingrich could have used campaign funds to reimburse the committee. Others have done this, the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Gephardt], the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Frost], former Congressman Rose. Speaker Gingrich could have used the Newt Gingrich trust fund approved by the committee for the stated purpose of paying the reimbursement. Instead, the Speaker chose to do the right thing by reimbursing the taxpayers and taking full responsibility with borrowed money under his own name. I commend Speaker Gingrich for the effort that he is putting forward.
Source
govinfo.gov
