Gingrich Reportedly Denies Any Conflict of Interest in Book Deal

WASHINGTON — With partisan feelings rising, House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) told the Ethics Committee on Thursday that his best-selling book was not based on material from his taxpayer-subsidized college course, sources familiar with the testimony said.

The Speaker testified in private for three hours, also denying any conflict of interest with media baron Rupert Murdoch. Afterward, the ranking committee Democrat, Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington, told reporters that Republicans were botching the probe.

The committee chairman, Rep. Nancy L. Johnson (R-Conn.), said, “I don’t think you can assume that he speaks for other Democrats.”

The sources, insisting on anonymity, said the committee was extremely interested in how Gingrich came to write the book, how he went about writing it and how he chose HarperCollins, the publisher owned by Murdoch. Murdoch has extensive interests before Congress and personally lobbied Gingrich last November on a broadcasting issue.

A complaint filed against Gingrich contended that the GOP leader’s college course was an arm of Gingrich’s political fund-raising empire. Gingrich has said it was an educational activity that properly received its tax-deductible donations.

The complaint also said the book, “To Renew America,” raised a conflict of interest for Gingrich, because Murdoch has extensive legislative interests.

The sources said the Speaker told the panel that he was unaware that Murdoch owned HarperCollins when Murdoch tried to lobby him last November.