(CNN) - Newt Gingrich was specifically prevented from lobbying Congress on behalf of the mortgage giant Freddie Mac in 1999 and the early 2000s, according to a contract released Tuesday by the firm he founded.
The contract, which covered services rendered by the Gingrich Group from May 1, 1999 through December 31, 2000, states specifically: "Nothing herein is or shall be construed as an agreement to provide lobbying services of any kind or engage in lobbying activities."
The document continues, "Newt Gingrich and Group do not provide lobbying services of any kind and do not engage in lobbying activities. Neither The Gingrich Group nor Newt Gingrich will provide lobbying services of any kind nor participate in lobbying activities of Freddie Mac's behalf."
The release of the contract comes one day after the Gingrich Group released a separate contract with Freddie Mac, covering work beginning in 2006. That document did not contain the explicit no-lobbying provisions, stating only that Gingrich's firm was contracted to "provide consulting and related services" to Freddie Mac.
The 1999-2000 document offered more specifics about Gingrich's services. Among the firm's duties were serving as "advisor to Freddie Mac in areas of strategic planning and public policy," "meeting with major stakeholders of Freddie Mac to discuss business and public policy issues," and engaging "in discussions with Mitchell Delk and other senior officers of Freddie Mac."
Mitchell Delk was Freddie Mac's senior vice president for government relations, according to the contract.
Gingrich's firm provided consulting services to Freddie Mac for roughly six years in total, approximately half of which are covered by the two released contracts. On Monday, the Gingrich Group said they couldn't locate the contracts from other years, but told CNN on Tuesday evening the latest release was found in the company's warehouse.
Both the contract released Monday and the document released Tuesday show the Gingrich Group earned $25,000 per month for its services to Freddie Mac.
The role Gingrich played at Freddie Mac has become a sticking point for the candidate on the campaign trail. Rival GOP hopefuls are reissuing their claims the former House speaker lobbied for Freddie Mac as the campaign moves to Florida, site of the next primary showdown. Florida was hit particularly hard by the national housing crisis, which many Republicans pin on the failure of the mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
From CNN Politics
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I am sure her advised them how to MAKE MONEY on shady deals. Profits, profits, profits and MORE profits. His advice cost America dearly!! Some Senators are coming forward and claiming he DID lobby on behalf of Freddie, Newt swears it was on his OWN accord. Some how I find it difficult to believe Newt with his track record.
Oh sure, just like a SuperPac! Geesh!
What possble value could he add EXCEPT as a lobbyist using his Washington connections to help FM? He has NO business background.
Right can release both the same time, makes you wonder
Are any of the local zoos missing any snakes? I think I know where they are.
After listening to Mr. Gingrich numerous times on different topics, I wouldn't believe him even if he were sitting on a stack of Bibles, with one stuck up his rear.
The bloviator in chief wants to stop other people from making money the way he made money?
Amazingly there are still a few people who refuse to admit the GOP platform is hypocrisy?!
Gingrich broke his contract? Lots of congressmen seem to indicate thats the case.
Seems like he has a history of breaking commitments.
I'm glad this is out. Now we can move on to Newt's vision of the future.
A question to ask Newt, along with whoever "enforced" that contract; was Newt kept from physically meeting with those who DID take part in lobbying for Freddie Mac? "you know, by contract I cannot take part in lobby activities but if I WAS a lobbyist this is what I would do."
Who cares? You are not now, nor were you ever presidential material. This is more truth, than you've ever told in your entire life.
►sick of republican phonies
deceptive headline. The contract is not "new", it's "newly revealed". It covers 1999-2000; it says nothing about prohibiting lobbying in the 2006 contract. Apples to oranges.◄
Agree, it's NOT new! And ginGRINCH changes his story every time he opens his mouth as stated by Rudy NYC. So what is the truth – the truth is, ginGRINCH lies!
Obama 2012
Could I get his old job?
Dong nothing for this much money. Where so I sign?
"Oh, no! You mustn't lobby!" Wink, wink, nudge, nudge-"Why else we (Freddie Mac) hire a Newt? We're not Geico!"
The document is a fraud....
Freddie Mac explanationon the Gingrich hiring: "We embarked on a program to hire the morally handicapped."
The problem with all of this is Congress is responsible for the defination of Lobbying. The is all about parsing. There is nothing Newt does other than pedal influence that is worth this kind of money.
So, an old contract spells out "no lobbying". A more recent contract signed by FM's chief lobbyist does not. Hmm.
That is just CYA language in a contract. It begs the question of why is that wording even there in the first place? Yep, it's just a transparent attempt to cover his abundant behind.
Gingrich's script when calling members of Congress must have read, "As historian for Freddie Mac, I encourage you to vote 'no' on the historic upcoming bill whose defeat will make history."
OK, then why was he lobbying on their behalf? And why did they pay him so much? This is just more GOPBS.
I'm sure a hundred years from now American children will be reading about "Honest Newt." Somehow that just doesn't sound right.
Okay like I believe what Gingrich puts out. He took money as a historian/consultant. This alone means he worked for them so he is lobbing for them. Romney invested his own money into the 2 , totally different than what Gingrich did. The man is unelectable anyway so who cares at this point.
Newt Gingrich you may not call your self a lobbyist ,but you work for Fannie mac and you went to talk to Republican to get there voted on something they wanted pass so that does really make you a Lobbyist. Like the old saying go Is ,If It wall like a duck and crack like a duck than It a Duck. IN short Newt you where a Lobbyist and you make Millions doing It.
It was found in the companies' warehouse? Why was a document as important as this consigned to a warehouse, if its so important to people's understanding what he was doing? This is yet another example of " crisis a minute" management by Gingrich. Its almost as good as Romney's unability to locate his tax returns from before 2010, and his offshore accounts. This is not disclosure, its burying an embarrassment, and please don't compare this to the birth certificate/ colelge grades fiasco the Righties have put us through.