COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina's reputation as a haven for political dirty tricks reared its ugly head as a pair of e-mails were sent to Republican voters here claiming Newt Gingrich forced his ex-wife to have an abortion.
Gingrich told reporters that whomever sent the emails should be prosecuted and the state's House majority leader, Republican Kenny Bingham of Lexington, called on the state's attorney general to investigate.
The first e-mail, made to look like an official CNN breaking news alert, claimed Marianne Gingrich, the candidate's second ex-wife, alleged he "forced her to abort a pregnancy conceived during the affair that preceeded her marriage to Gingrich," according to a copy of the message obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
CNN acknowledged the email on air Friday, but said the network did not send it out.
The AJC also obtained a copy of a second fake e-mail sent to Gingrich supporters that appears to be a message from Gingrich confessing to the charge. It features Gingrich's graphics and even has an "unsubscribe" option that makes it appear real.
A Gingrich spokesman confirmed that the e-mails are fake.
“It is an unfortunate fact that there are elements in American politics who are negative, dishonest and, I will use the word, despicable… If we could find out who they are, I would urge the government to prosecute," Gingrich said. "I am sick of the kind of dishonest campaigns we see where people go out and fake somebody else’s material for the purpose of causing trouble 24 hours before a primary. This is not worthy of our children and grandchildren. It is not worthy of America. It is not funny. It is not a game. It undermines our capacity to govern ourselves.”
Marianne Gingrich did give an interview to ABC News that aired Thursday, in which she claimed Gingrich wanted an "open marriage" so he could remain married to her but keep another woman as his mistress. That other woman is now Gingrich's third wife, Callista.
Gingrich angrily denounced the allegations in Thursday's debate and said the couple's friends at the time said it was not true.
Bingham, who has endorsed Gingrich, said Attorney General Alan Wilson should launch a "full-scale investigation to find out who did it and what campaign is responsible. They must be brought to justice."
Bingham said he has been "assured" the investigation will begin. Wilson, a Republican, had originally endorsed former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman for president but has not picked an alternative since Huntsman dropped out.
The state has a history of these types of shenanigans. In the 2000 GOP primary, U.S. Sen. John McCain was hit by last-minute anonymous smears that helped deliver the state, and the nomination, to then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush.
Staff writer Jeremy Redmon contributed.
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