Gingrich falsely claimed Reid took money from Abramoff

Summary: On Fox, Newt Gingrich falsely accused Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of taking money from former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and asserted that this made it more difficult for Democrats to charge Republicans with perpetuating a "culture of corruption."

During Fox Broadcasting Co.'s January 31 special coverage of the State of the Union address, Fox News political contributor and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA) falsely accused Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) of taking money from former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and asserted that this would compromise the ability of the Democrats to charge Republicans with a "culture of corruption."

Gingrich's claim regarding money he said "Reid took from Abramoff" has no apparent basis in fact. As Media Matters for America has previously noted, a Center for Responsive Politics breakdown of Abramoff's donations shows that Abramoff made contributions only to Repubicans, not Democrats.

From Fox Broadcasting Co.'s January 31 special coverage of the State of the Union address:

SHEPARD SMITH (host): Is that a case -- were you in charge of that party [the Democrats] -- you could make? The culture of corruption?

GINGRICH: Look, I think it is a good case for them to try to make. I think, frankly, with Reid's relationship to Abramoff, the amount of money Reid took from Abramoff, it's a little trickier case for them to make. But, you know, if you are the opposition party, you've got to try.

—S.G.