Largent Urges Gingrich To Give Up Speaker Post He Wants Speaker To Step Down Until Ethics Charges Resolved

Rep. Steve Largent, a member of Newt Gingrich’s loyal supporters from the 1994 class of House freshmen, recommended Sunday that Gingrich give up his speaker’s seat until ethics charges against him are resolved.

“I think it is a good idea,” Largent, R-Okla., responded when asked on “Fox News Sunday” about a proposal that Gingrich turn his job over to Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., while the ethics charges are pending. The idea reportedly is suggested in the next issue of the conservative journal “National Review.”

“I think it would reduce the amount of rhetoric that we would hear on the floor for the 105th Congress and allow us to work more constructively and move forward,” said Largent, a former wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League.

Asked if others in Congress shared his view, Largent said, “I think behind closed doors there would be, but publicly people are maybe fearful to say that on national TV.”

Appearing later on the same program, Ralph Reed of the Christian Coalition said a scenario where Gingrich, R-Ga., stepped aside was unlikely. “The House members that I have talked to have indicated that unless and until the ethics committee comes forth with formal charges, that Newt Gingrich is innocent until proven guilty,” Reed said.

Democrats have hit Gingrich with dozens of ethics complaints since he became speaker after the 1994 election. One is the subject of a special counsel’s investigation to determine whether a college course Gingrich taught constituted a political activity that violated tax laws.

Gingrich stresses that he has been cleared of all but a few minor infractions and insists the Democratic charges are baseless.

In Georgia, Gingrich spokesman Allan Lipsett said the speaker’s office wants the House ethics committee to complete its review of the Gingrich record before Congress opens in early January.

“We fully expect Newt to be speaker in the 105th Congress,” Lipsett said.