Gingrich Completes Penalty Payments

House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) has completed payment of a $300,000 penalty imposed for violations of House rules, the Ethics Committee said. Gingrich made the final payment of $150,000, the committee said, and “has now satisfied in full” the obligation imposed in January 1997. Gingrich, who also was reprimanded by the House two years ago, admitted that he misled the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and should have sought better legal advice before using tax-exempt organizations to advance his political goals. The money was to reimburse the committee for investigative costs.