(CNN) – Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office said Monday that any potentially-damaging information she had on Newt Gingrich was all open to the public, defending earlier comments that she had "a thousand pages" of investigative material on Gingrich during his time as House speaker.
"Leader Pelosi was clearly referring to the extensive amount of information that is in the public record, including the comprehensive committee report with which the public may not be fully aware," said Nadeam Elshami, a Pelosi spokesman, in a statement.
Earlier Monday, Pelosi suggested in an interview she would talk in detail at some point about the House ethics committee's investigation of Gingrich in the late 1990s.
In the interview with the left-leaning news website Talking Points Memo, Pelosi was pressed to talk about her thoughts on the Republican presidential candidate's recent rise in the polls. While the House Democratic Leader demurred, she signaled she'd have more to say later.
"One of these days we'll have a conversation about Newt Gingrich," Pelosi told TPM. "I know a lot about him. I served on the investigative committee that investigated him, four of us locked in a room in an undisclosed location for a year. A thousand pages of his stuff."
According to the TPM story, Pelosi "joked" the information would come out "when the time's right."
After hearing about the interview, Gingrich told reporters in New York that he considered Pelosi's comments "an early Christmas gift" and said any information the Democratic Leader might release on the ethics probe would itself be a violation of House ethics rules.
"That is a fundamental violation of the rules of the House and I would hope members would immediately file charges against her the second she does it," Gingrich said. If Pelosi did talk publicly about any private deliberations of the inquiry, Gingrich urged members of the House to file a complaint against her.
At his press conference on Monday, former Speaker Gingrich also noted that 83 charges the House committee investigated were found to be false.
But in 1997 Gingrich became the only speaker to be reprimanded by the House, for giving false information about using tax deductible funds for political purposes to the ethics committee. He was also ordered to pay $300,000 to cover the cost of the panel's inquiry.
From CNN Politics
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{whispering} Not yet, Nancy. Shh!
Not only can Newt Gingrich lie out of both corners of his mouth at the same time, if he were ever caught telling the truth he'd lie about that, too!
Pelosi should be in Jail. Holding up legislation so that she and her uber rich hubby can make out on stock trading.
Anyone who says crap like this should be booted from congress today, not tomorrow....
One of these days we'll have a conversation about Newt Gingrich," Pelosi told TPM. "I know a lot about him. I served on the investigative committee that investigated him, four of us locked in a room in an undisclosed location for a year. A thousand pages of his stuff."
According to the TPM story, Pelosi "joked" the information would come out "when the time's right."
I guess I don't understand how it is that this guy has made it to #1 next to Mitt Romney. You've got one guy who was indicted for ethics violations (seriously, they want someone with questionable ethics to run our country??) sitting next to another guy who's as squeaky clean as they come. I don't really get it.
If you want Obama to win hands-down then the GOP should give Newt the nod, otherwise I think we'll have a nice showdown with Mitt on the ticket.
Congress has a 12% approval rating...I WONDER WHY....maybe its kinda sorta because of the back biting political show and tell defined in this article instead of doing the peoples business like they are paid for. Personally Im SICK OF IT on both sides! Im convinced the Dems went after Mr. Cain because of his race and possibility of taking the black vote from the President, now that he is out they go right to the next leader in the polls.
It was people like Pelosi in the democratic party that took out Cain, now they are eying Gingrich. Wicked people who head the democratic party!
Even if she has nothing that she can disclose, she will infer that she does just to give the media some fake ammunition. She knows the Dems only chance to retain the presidency is to defame and destroy all republican candidates.
Watch the LeftyLibDems go full tilt to spin, misinformed, and lie about this one! Newt's history is something they drool about because revenge resonates so deeply. Just remember, the Tax Court found no evidence of wrong doing, of the 80+ counts were leveled against Newt & the 1 that stuck concerned the tax status of a college course! Certainly not on the level of Geithner "forgetting" to pay his taxes or Pelosi making $100Ks on probable inside information. Readers with a mind would do better to read the Washington Post or Wikipedia for greater objectivity unless your goal is to measure the chicanery of the LeftyLibDem media.
Anonymous, why all the hate?
Rudy says: "Does it make any sense if I point out that the committee was chaired by a Republican and that most of the members were Republicans?"
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And Charlie Rangel was a beneficiary of the same shenanigans.
Noticed he didn't deny any accusations. He only said that it would be unethical of her to release the information.
No Newt!!!! even he is surging he will be done!!!!! Vote for ROMNEY!!!
Newt is dirty and he knows it he shares the same personality deficiency as Herman Cain, an out of control ego. He thinks he's safe from being exposed for the dirtball he is but he is not. Humpty Newty sat on a wall, Humpty Newty had a great fall, All the states conservatives and all the states christians, couldn't put Newty together again.
I don't like Gingrich, but I find the Democrat Party's tactics in this election repulsive. They have made it clear they will engage in whatever level of deceit, manipulation, demagoguery, obstruction, slander and - given their support for the intolerant, didactic "occupy" movement - even violence necessary to retain power....tactics straight out of the fascist handbook.
As bad as Newt is, Pelosi is worse. I am awaiting the day for a " Vote against all incumbents" button on the voting machines.
So much for the masses knowing their elected President. Our Republican counterparts have taken advantage of us that they truly do not recognize a President playing by the rules set forth by our founding Fathers that they want all of our presidents to be a "wannabe dictator."
As bad as Newt s, Pelosi is worse. I am awaiting the "Vote against all incumbents" button on the voting machines.
meeting Pelosi in an alley after dark would be my scariest event.
Wow!! Really people? Its ok to support the Democrates but man the hate you spew here is unbelievable.
Newt is running full speed – from his record. He made a deal to avoid charges, even jail time for tax fraud. I say bring it on the FULL investigation records. Newt flip-flops more than Mitt and he’s a bigger crook than Perry. He makes Herman Cain look like a monk with all the affairs he has been involved in; Little Newty (that’s what his “women friends” call him).
newt is the smartest man in the race
This country is in some serious trouble!
Joe wrote:
She's waiting until he wins the primary, then she will try to destroy his chances of beating Obama.
Wish she would release it now, to help Ron Paul win the bid. But that wouldn't be a good strategy for the Democrats, would it. Hoping for Newt to win because then they can destroy him.
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Nancy is looking for buttons to push. I think she's trying to keep cameras and microphones in his face when he has a temper so that he will shoot himself in the foot by saying something stupid. He's at his best when he is angry. As far as the reports helping Ron Paul, then why doesn't Ron Paul release the info himself. It available through the Freedom Of Information Act if it is not already available.
"Nancy Pelosi would be opening her self to a huge law suit. " For what? Telling the truth? You can't just sue someone because you don't like what they are saying. This is America.