The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) called on Newt Gingrich to tell the Justice Department to release its records of the House Ethics Committee’s investigaiton of his conduct. From a news release:
The committee inquiry centered on Mr. Gingrich’s use of tax-exempt organizations for political purposes and he was ultimately sanctioned for making false statements to Congress. The ethics committee forwarded its files to DOJ and the IRS for further action in 1997.
Last month, CREW sent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to both federal agencies requesting the records. This week, DOJ denied CREW’s request, citing Mr. Gingrich’s need for privacy and claiming the records could be released only with his written permission.
“As a candidate for president, Mr. Gingrich’s congressional record should be an open book,” said CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan. “The records of the ethics inquiry could shed substantial light on Mr. Gingrich’s conduct while in the House. Americans should have the opportunity to evaluate that information in considering Mr. Gingrich’s candidacy.”
