Is there more than meets the eye here? Dave "Doctor" Gonzo goes looking for answers.
Sept. 14, 1999 — NEW YORK (apj.us) — Those hoping for a major and ugly dust-up on Thursday, when an all-too-public divorce hearing involving has-been House Uberspeaker Newt Gingrich was to take place, felt a strong sense of letdown when, late last night, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that
The Gingriches have reached a confidential agreement on how to divide their income and assets while their legal separation proceeds, avoiding an open and potentially contentious hearing this week.
The announcement followed "information" leaked to the press by Newt's attorney — details of a "separation" agreement he supposedly made with Marianne some years ago. The release of Newt's "facts" seemed to be a cheap-shot effort to embarrass her. So it's not surprising that many may assume that the deal was hastily arranged because Marianne's team threw in the towel.
But there are three things worth keeping in mind. First, Marianne's lawyer, John Mayoue of the firm Warner, Mayoue & Bates, is reputed to be one of the savviest attorneys in Atlanta. Second, no public figure, celebrity, business honcho or other big-money type wants all of their dirty laundry aired in public. And third, this case was showing signs of becoming just that.
In fact, some suspect far more going on behind the scenes than the ALC story and the spin from Newt's side would lead you to believe — and the press has not reported an explosive element of the Newt divorce story, one that hints that Newt's involvement with Callista Bisek is the least of his worries.
Flashback: in January, both The Irish Times and American Politics Journal reported on allegations that Gingrich had procured call girls during his tenure in the House of Representatives.
An attempt to obtain paperwork from these alleged transactions — including credit card charge slips — had been made late last year by researchers working for L.F.P. Inc., the publishing company headed by Larry Flynt, who offered a bounty for information on illegal or hypocritical conduct by Federal officials in a Washington Post ad last October. Gingrich abruptly announced his resignation as House Speaker and Congressman from Georgia's Sixth District as L.F.P. was holding talks with at least one party concerning the purported documents.
Cut to present: American Politics Journal has learned that attorneys for Marianne Gingrich were alerted to these allegations a few weeks ago.
Remember — if these charges were to prove true, they would hold the potential of serious legal consequences for Gingrich. A source tells American Politics Journal that "there's been a lot of talk on the Hill about this. Word is that Newt might have been buying 'rent-a-chicks' for elected colleagues and even lobbyists. That could land more than a few big names in Club Fed, including the Big Kahuna himself."
And if in fact Marianne Gingrich's attorneys were investigating the "Poontang Express" rumors — or other illegal activity that related in any way to her divorce case — it is not surprise that Newt would want to settle.
…that is, after making it look like he'd embarrassed Marianne into an agreement.
'Nuff said.