Chenoweth Denies Anti-Gingrich Role

Rep. Helen Chenoweth’s chief of staff denies a published report she was one of about 20 House Republican dissidents who considered trying to overthrow House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

“Whoever was saying she was part of the coup is full of beans,” Keith Rupp said.

Chenoweth has had concerns about various issues, Rupp said, but not to the point where she thought it was justified to oust the speaker.

“Helen did not have any part of it,” he said. “She was very saddened by that whole effort.”

The Roll Call newspaper last Thursday reported Gingrich loyalists said Republican “rebels” such as South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham, Florida’s Joe Scarbarough and Chenoweth could be defeated in primaries with no damage to the size of the House’s GOP majority.

All three represent Republican-leaning districts that could be retained by more moderate Republicans, according to the newspaper.

Chenoweth faces a primary challenge from conservative Coeur d’Alene businessman Tony Paquin of Coeur d’Alene.

Roll Call also reported that Gingrich and National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman John Linder promised the committee’s fund-raising operation will not be used to punish any dissident Republicans.

“Retaliation is not Speaker Gingrich’s style,” said his press secretary, Christina Martin. She refused to respond directly when asked whether Gingrich believes Chenoweth was a deserter.

“We are not going into the personalities of the plot.”

Gingrich attended a Boise fund-raiser for Chenoweth’s re-election campaign a year ago.

He originally scheduled an event for her in January 1996, but it was canceled amid reports it was in retaliation for Chenoweth’s vote against the speaker’s budget bill.

Gingrich attributed the cancellation to scheduling problems, adding he campaigned for Chenoweth in October 1994.