Claim:  “Newt was fined $300,000 for ethics violations”

Ad(s): Desperate, Smiling (Plan), Smiling, Too Much, Baggage

Sponsor(s): Restore Our Future

Air Dates:  Dec. 9, 2011 – Feb. 29, 2012

Total Estimated Spending On This Claim: $1,196,569

Markets: Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines, Rochester (MN), Sioux City, Augusta, Charleston (SC), Columbia (SC), Greenville (SC), Myrtle Beach, Savannah, Ft. Meyers, Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Mobile, Charlotte, Panama City, Rochester (MN), Sioux City, Alpena, Detriot, Phoenix, Grand Rapids, Tucson, Yuma-El Centro, Flint, Lansing, Traverse City, Marquette

FactCheck.org’s Summary: “The Ethics Committee report didn’t call it a fine, but rather a ‘payment reimbursing the House for some of the costs of the investigation.'” Click here to read more

Politifact’s Summary: “The Super PAC Restore Our Future made a linguistic overstep when it labeled the $300,000 payment a ‘fine,’ since the ethics committee never used that precise term. But the underlying point of the pro-Romney Super PAC ad remains valid. Although the payment was not technically a ‘fine,’ it was a penalty.” Click here to read more

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