These groups are legally barred from funding political activity. However, what could be the most detrimental to Gingrich is evidence that he lied to the ethics committee. What is disturbing here is that despite clear ethics violations, violating the very fabric of our country's lawmaking body, Gingrich was re-elected house speaker. It is not a good example. The committee plans to render its decision on Jan. 21, but it is likely that Gingrich will get no more than a slap on his hand.
Politicians have no deterrent for following ethics rules.
Most underage college students would go to the bars if they knew they weren't going to be punished for violating the law. On the Democratic forefront is the Paula Jones sexual harassment case against President Clinton. Today the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on whether a sitting president can be required to stand trial in a civil case. Clinton and his lawyers will argue that a civil case would undermine the executive branch, and that the president should be granted immunity until he leaves office. Jones, on the other hand, wants to bring forth a civil suit because Clinton allegedly sought sex with her and exposed himself to Jones in 1991 when he was governor of Arkansas.