[CedarDave]

Gingrich adamantly denied violating the law, but ultimately agreed to pay a $300,000 fine for making misleading statements to the ethics committee.

You might want to do a check on that. Supposedly there is documentation that the $300,000 was specifically for reimbursement by Newt of the cost of the investigation and that it was not a fine.

[Lucky9teen]

It appears to be called a "fine", no matter what the funds were to be paid back for.
,br> In the end, the House voted overwhelmingly, 395-28, to reprimand Gingrich and to fine him $300,000.

more here...