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| For Immediate Release | |
| Nov 7, 1998 | Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
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"Election results only the straw that 'broke the camel's back'" Gingrich's Own Legal and Ethics Problems Prevented Republicans From Effectively Investigating Clinton Scandals and Taking Initiatives on Legislation and Public Policy Conservatives "Jumped" At Chance to Remove Him "Bad Precedent For Clinton" The conventional wisdom is that Newt Gingrich has resigned over last Tuesday's dismal Republican election results. This is not really the case. Indeed, conservatives in Congress had been looking for a reason to remove him for a long time. Beginning in late December 1996, with his ethics problems and his subsequent plea agreement to admit that he had brought discredit on the House and pay a $300,000 fine, he was severely damaged goods. This is why it was Democrats in recent days who have been defending him -- including the favorable obituaries today in liberal newspapers like The Washington Post. The liberal community -- which opportunistically used him as a whipping boy -- is truly sorry to see him go. Judicial Watch was among the first to call for Gingrich's resignation two years ago, right after it found John Huang and sparked the Chinagate scandal. It was clear from the start that Gingrich's plea agreement had compromised Republicans to such an extent that Congressional investigations into the Clinton Administration's conduct would be severely compromised. Indeed, this was the case, as even seen recently in the wholesale retreat from a full impeachment inquiry into all Administration scandals, including Chinagate, Filegate, and IRS-gate -- as detailed in Judicial Watch's interim report. See http://www.JudicialWatch.org. "Gingrich's departure was long overdue. He had neither been honest nor sincere with neither the American people, nor conservatives -- who had supported him throughout his career. To now salute him as a conservative deity may make good American soap opera, but is not the true story. Indeed, his statements yesterday that he resigned to avoid 'cannibalism' in the Republican Party is just the latest example of the hot air spewed forth by him over the last several years. Gingrich resigned because he had brought, by his own admission, discredit on the House of Representatives. This precedent bodes poorly for President Clinton, who has also brought discredit on the country. There will come a day in the not too distant future, when he too will be shown the door by his own Party," stated Judicial Watch Chairman Larry Klayman. |
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