Newt Gingrich owed up to $500,000 to Tiffany

Newt and Callista Gingrich.

/ Citizens United Productions

Updated 5:52 p.m. Eastern Time

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who entered the 2012 presidential race just last Wednesday, is having an epically bad week. And it's only Tuesday.

On Sunday, Gingrich angered conservatives by criticizing Rep. Paul Ryan's budget plan and semi-supporting an individual mandate for health care. Now he is being stung by a report that he carried up to $500,000 in debt to the Tiffany jewelry company - and may still be carrying it.

Politico got the scoop by looking at financial records filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives in 2005 and 2006. (CBS News has now viewed the records and can confirm the report.) While Newt Gingrich has not been in the House since 1999, his wife, Callista Gingrich, worked for the House Agriculture Committee through 2007.

Callista Gingrich reported a "revolving charge account" at Tiffany and Company that she indicated was for the debt of her spouse. (A "revolving charge account" is a credit card.) She reported the debt to be in the range of $250,001 to $500,000.

Gingrich spokesman Rick Tyler declined to comment to Politico on why the Gingriches were carrying the debt to the jewelry company - or whether they still carried it.

Newt and Callista Gingrich no longer have to file financial disclosure forms since they are no longer employed by Congress, though Gingrich will have to file a personal financial disclosure in his capacity as a presidential candidate.

The disclosures also indicate that the Gingriches owed between $15,000 and $50,000 to the credit card company American Express. In 2006, the couple reported between $1 million and $2.5 million in assets.

[marinermama]

So what? He writes books. He's a politician. He's rich. The scandal would be if he didn't pay his bills. How much does Obama owe Tiffany's, or Cartier, or wherever else? No big deal here, I wish my husband had a half million dollar credit line in good standing at Tiffany's! Jealous haters all.

[OrangeCountyCalif]

Also if Gingrich is elected, I will advocate overthrowing the U.S. government.

[OrangeCountyCalif]

If Newt Gingrich is elected, I will sell my TV, cancel my newspaper and magazine subscriptions and cancel my Internet service. No way in hell would I want to look at Newt's ugly face for the next four years, let alone eight.

[marinermama]

If only all the liberals/progressives would do the same, but no, they won't. They're too obsessed with trying to micromanage every one else's lives to be out of the loop for so long. All talk and no action, like the Hollywood elites who promised to leave the US if Bush got elected/re-elected. Waited for years, only to find out they're nothing but a bunch of lying masochists.

[OrangeCountyCalif]

Newt Gingrich is the ugliest man, inside and out, to run for president, finishing second only to Richard Nixon.

[youjustcantfixstupid]

This man represents the worst of America! Three wives, massive debt, little to know ethics.......this is who people think should be running the country. Everyone maligned John Kerry for Flip Flopping this guy has flopped!

[strandc]

What a jerk spending all that money on jewelry. I loved his criticism of Paul Ryan though! But he flip flopped on that under pressure didn't he?

[mattrick78]

Someone tell me why this story is hilarious.

[1pheasant1]

It's the Newt! He's always good for hilarity.

[falcon2691]

But he is not an elitist.

[usadvisor101]

yeah thats funny!

[kevjustice]

NEWT WENT SHOPPING WITH DEZ BRYANT.

[javila2]

Give the guy a break! Remember he has 2 x-wives and a currnt wife to consider. Afterall "Diamonds" (especially diamonds from Tiffany's)are a girls best friend.
Dosen't everyone have a Tiffany's charge account?