WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Aides to former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich misled a foundation into making an improper donation to his political group, a foundation lawyer said.
Gingrich’s organization, American Solutions for Winning the Future, returned the $50,000 contribution to the Hasan Family Foundation, based in Colorado, after determining the donation violated tax law, Politico.com reported Friday.
However, Ryan Call, a lawyer for the foundation, said American Solutions had specifically assured foundation officials the contribution could legally be made. He said the Gingrich organization’s “wrong answer was what the family foundation relied upon in making its contribution,” Politico.com reported.
“I don’t think it was anything malicious or intentional or an attempt to deceive,” said Call. “I just think it was a little bit of inadvertent oversight.”
He said American Solutions spotted the problem and made arrangements to return the check -- but not before the contribution appeared on the monthly report American Solutions filed in August with the Internal Revenue Service.
Politico first reported on the contribution Aug. 22.
Gingrich spokesman Rick Tyler previously said American Solutions was always aware the tax code barred the contribution, and he blamed the foundation for the error.
