Ron Paul, Mitt Romney Open Fire On Newt Gingrich Over Ethics Charges (VIDEO)

Ron Paul tore into Newt Gingrich early in Monday night's debate, claiming that he had left the speakership due to lack of support from his conservative colleagues, not voluntarily -- as Gingrich has suggested -- following the GOP's poor performance in the 1998 elections.

Mitt Romney also "opened fire" on Gingrich, attacking him over ethics charges as House speaker, and stressing that many of Gingrich's Republican colleagues had voted to reprimand him in 1997.

"It was members of your own party that voted against you," Romney said, noting that Gingrich left the House "in disgrace" when he resigned his seat in late 1998.

Gingrich asked moderator Brian Williams for time to respond.

"I asked Republicans to vote yes [on my reprimand] so we could get this over with and move on," Gingrich said of the three-year investigation into more than 80 charges of ethics violations that was closed in 1997.

"Democrats were very bitter" when the GOP won a majority in 1994, Gingrich said, noting that "The only thing that I admitted was that a lawyer wrote an inaccurate letter."

Gingrich paid a $300,000 fee to cover the costs of the investigation, and while he didn't resign until 1998, the settlement of the charges marked the beginning of the end of his tenure as speaker.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[Whicket Williams]

05:50 PM on 01/24/2012

It is amazing that a disgraced politician is so close to getting the nomination- it just shows how ignorant the voters are. I say, with the Patriot act and the NDAA stripping ALL rights from the american citizen, and leaving the helpless in a viscous police state, RON PAUL is the ONLY person we should even be considering for POTUS, because he is the only person who cares for freedom and is willing to restore our rights, which bush and Obama have stolen.

[debekniss]

02:09 AM on 02/13/2012

Whicket Williams

you have that right and if the become a fan link was working I would F&F ya there :)

[tierraroja]

04:20 PM on 01/24/2012

FOR THE LAST TIME, PEOPLE......NEWT WAS EXONERATED!!!!! HELLOOOOOOO!!!???? For those of you who don't understand the term "exonerated," it means he didn't do it! The $300K he paid was reimbursement for the investigation.

This is a Red Herring.....and if ya don't know what that means......LOOK IT UP!!!!!

[l78lancer]

04:56 PM on 01/25/2012

"This is a Red Herring...­..and if ya don't know what that means.....­.LOOK IT UP!!!!!"
-------------------------------------------------

ex·on·er·ate

verb \ig-ˈzä-nə-ˌrāt, eg-\
ex·on·er·at·edex·on·er·at·ing

Definition of EXONERATE

transitive verb

1
: to relieve of a responsibility, obligation, or hardship

2
: to clear from accusation or blame

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exonerate
--------------------------------------------------

Wishful thinking on your part. Exonerate means cleared of charges, but it does NOT mean he didn't do it. That would be INNOCENT.

Next time you may want to do a look up first.

[debekniss]

02:10 AM on 02/13/2012

l78lancer

classic !!!

[demisfine]

10:19 AM on 01/24/2012

Those who know Newt best like him least.
He has no following of his former colleagues begging for him to win the nomination.
You would think such an accomplished politician would have a diverse following.
His lack of support is very telling.

[debekniss]

02:11 AM on 02/13/2012

demisfine

Palin likes him lol

[demisfine]

10:18 AM on 01/24/2012

Newt can't control his urge to lie.
He cannot be President.

[LibertyIsDefined]

09:53 AM on 01/24/2012

I have read so many posts here that say we have, or are losing our Democracy. Our nation was founded as a Republic people not a Democracy there is a world of difference. If we are a Democracy or we are losing our Democracy then everyone should be worried as Democracy is what happens on your way to an Oligarchy. This just another reason we will continue to elect officials that don’t uphold the oath they take, we don’t even know what form of government we have and what is happening to it. Time for some wakie wakie people.

[wizeanne]

11:33 AM on 01/24/2012

Liberty...agree but most folks don't know the difference in a Plutocrati,or Oligarch...much less the difference in Democracy and a Republic. Our founding Fathers when writing our Constitution it was for a "Constitutional" Republic where the PEOPLE elect the President and the President MUST govern according to the CONSTITUTION ... In the past half century our Constitution has been slowly erroded by the Congress and past Presidents...but MORE so in the past 11 YEARS!

[l78lancer]

05:01 PM on 01/25/2012

The formal name of this country is the Democratic Republic of the United States of America. Jefferson and the other framers were clear about the application of both.

People like you is why people like Newt think they can rewrite history.

[johntangier]

09:10 AM on 01/24/2012

I ASKED REPUBLICANS TO VOTE YES ON MY REPRIMAND, WOW AND PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY BELIEVE THIS? I KNOW HIS PATROTISM MADE HIM CHEAT ON 2 WIFES, MY QUESTION IS IS NEWT STILL THAT PATROTIC THAT HE IS CHEATING ON CALLISTA?

[maximaxdr]

06:53 AM on 01/24/2012

Romney said many of Gingrich's Republican colleagues had voted to reprimand him in 1997! Oh come on! That wasn't Newt-- t'was someone else!

[woodsjs]

04:01 AM on 01/24/2012

I'm tired of watching Mitt and newt have this fake tussle in order to stay in the media spotlight. Put up or shutup. The only one making any logical sense and presenting any indication of a premeditated plan to as president is Ron Paul. Enough with the fake Frontrunner articles and polls... It's not like there's 50 people we are choosing from. It's obvious who the media wants us to pick, and it's obvious people really don't care for them.

[rockysparks]

08:38 AM on 01/24/2012

Paul will never get the Party of No's nomination. You're beating a dead horse.

[LibertyIsDefined]

09:34 AM on 01/24/2012

Hey everybody, we have a fortune teller here! Mr Fortune Teller can you please tell me who is going to pay off the 117 trillion in unfunded liabilities that are coming.

[Ashokray Tempestas]

03:38 PM on 01/24/2012

I think All Fortune tellers must be bald too!----THIS GUY FOR FORTUNETELLER 2012!!---(Rubs his head and waits patiently for lottery numbers)

[NWBrunette]

01:10 AM on 01/24/2012

Republicans. No ethics. Not news.

[jordan2]

01:57 AM on 01/24/2012

Democrats. No ethics. Sorry but it happens on both sides of the aisle. They are all liars and crooks.

[NWBrunette]

02:21 AM on 01/24/2012

Sure it happens. But there's a world of difference between the horrendous hardcore howlers and incessent massive campaign of manipulation by the republicans compared to anything the Dems could manage to concoct. If you can't tell that you're not paying attention.

[Pamela Lake]

12:55 AM on 01/24/2012

Only Ron Paul made any sense in regards to the money being spent on the wars and our foreign policy with Iran and Cuba. The other 3 would mire us into more wars and deepen our country's deficit - the very thing they so frequently harp on. I don't agree with Paul on many issues, but on these issues I think he pegs it.

[Chockolate]

01:18 AM on 01/24/2012

I think he'll pull out the big guns later on, once there appears to be a viable opponent (this could take a long time at this rate). Once Americans get a bit more war-weary and the Wall Street / Fed couple trounce on them a few more times, people wont be feeling inclined to fall for phony promises.

I hope that's the case at least.

[jordan2]

02:04 AM on 01/24/2012

Valid and honorable things for which we all hope. End the wars and reign in the FED? Who can argue with those issues?

[vicla1942]

04:46 AM on 01/24/2012

I hope we can get rid of citizens United
I hope we can reform congress
I hope for ballot initiatives and constitutional amendments
for both congress and the court.Our political system is corrupt
and is not even a democracy anymore,

[jordan2]

02:02 AM on 01/24/2012

For now, the Ron Paul movement is being overshadowed by the petty GOP fights but we have a long way to go before the Convention. Notice how both Newt and Mitt "court" him on everything but foreign policy. Before it's over, look for a deal. Neither one has a chance to win without his support.

[wizeanne]

08:04 AM on 01/24/2012

You're right! I just hope he doesn't endorse either Romney or Newt.

[Ppossom]

09:32 AM on 01/24/2012

There is a "Ron Paul Movement?"

How long has that been around?

[Relacks83]

12:48 AM on 01/24/2012

Its politics people, there are no ethics anywhere to found. Thats just the nature of beast.

[RocheTm]

12:56 AM on 01/24/2012

Thats the point. He is so bad that other corrupt people said he had to go... thats bad.

[Relacks83]

12:58 AM on 01/24/2012

That just means he's good at it. Stepping back from my politics I have to tip my hat to that kind of ruthlessness.

[Ricci Dats Me]

01:05 AM on 01/24/2012

And the death of our "democracy" as it was and a hello and big welcome to USA BANANA REPUBLIC where politicians are bought, the government is run by a finite wealthy few, elections are decided by media conglomerates (even when the vote tally is different) and most of the younger population are increasingly undereducated and unhealthy!
DENY this post at your own peril. I have no investment in this place. No children with whom to leave a most obvious tomorrow. OR LET'S BE SERIOUS and remember "there is no big government when THE PEOPLE responsibly elect people who do the jobs for which they were elected!!

[Relacks83]

01:13 AM on 01/24/2012

That was fairly epic.

[Steve Rockett]

12:47 AM on 01/24/2012

Ginger bread house soaked in oil.

[CAskeptic]

12:31 AM on 01/24/2012

Now we know the difference between George Romney and Mitt. George was able to honestly admit he had been brainwashed.

[jcd8822]

12:29 AM on 01/24/2012

Nothing like a good night of back biting.

[badwolf62]

12:26 AM on 01/24/2012

this is interseting: Mitt the mormon, Newt the Adulterer, Rick the bible babbler, and one asleep at the wheel. Obama wins this November.