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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Talks Under Way On Gingrich Investigation

Compiled From Wire Services

Republicans and Democrats on the House ethics committee have begun intense negotiations that could lead to appointment of a special counsel to investigate Speaker Newt Gingrich’s conduct, congressional sources said Tuesday night.

The sources said Republicans offered Tuesday to support appointing an outside lawyer to investigate whether Gingrich, R-Ga., misused U.S. tax law in raising tax-deductible contributions for a college course he taught.

A complaint filed a year ago contends that the college course was really a fund-raising tool of the Gingrich-led political action committee, GOPAC. The complaint says that if the course was political rather than educational, the tax-deductible donations were improper.