The House has voted to punish Speaker Newt Gingrich with a reprimand and a penalty of 300-thousand dollars. The action was recommended by a special counsel who investigated charges that Gingrich gave false statements to the ethics committee, and failed to seek legal advice on the use of tax-free contributions for partisan political activities. NPR's Brian Naylor reports that Congresswoman Nancy Johnson, who chairs the Standards of Official Conduct Committee, calls the punishment "tough" but "appropriate."
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