Top US State department official calls Gingrich an "idiot" Thu Apr 24, 3:57 PM ET
LISBON (AFP) - A top US State Department official called former congressman and current Pentagon (news - web sites) adviser Newt Gingrich an "idiot" in an interview published here.
US Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Elizabeth Jones was asked to comment on Gingrich's recent harsh criticism of her department's Middle East diplomacy.
"Newt Gingrich does not speak in the name of the Pentagon and what he said is garbage," US Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Elizabeth Jones told the Publico daily.
"What Gingrich says does not interest me. He is an idiot and you can publish that," she added.