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Tom DeLay steps down as House majority leader
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-08 10:44
Rep. Tom DeLay, the defiant face of a conservative revolution in Congress,
stepped down as House majority leader under pressure from Republicans staggered
by an election-year corruption scandal.
"During my time in Congress, I have always acted in an ethical manner within
the rules of our body and the laws of our land," the Texas lawmaker told fellow
Republicans in a letter informing them Saturday of his decision.
Still, referring to criminal charges he faces in his home state, he added, "I
cannot allow our adversaries to divide and distract our attention."
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| Majority Leader of the
U.S. House of Representatives Tom DeLay (R-TX) speaks at The Conservative
Movement dinner in Washington in this May 12, 2005 file photo.
(Reuters) | DeLay temporarily gave up his
leadership post after he was charged, but always insisted he would reclaim his
duties after clearing his name.
His turnabout cleared the way for leadership elections among Republicans
buffeted by poor polls and by lobbyist Jack Abramoff's confessions of guilt on
corruption charges in connection with congressional wining and dining.
The race to replace Delay as majority leader began taking shape immediately,
with Republican Reps. Roy Blunt and John Boehner, a former member of the
leadership, making clear their intentions to run. Rep. Jerry Lewis declined to
say whether he would join them.
Speaker Dennis Hastert, his own grip on power secure, said he expects
elections to be held when lawmakers return to the Capitol the week of January
31. That set the stage for several weeks of political maneuvering, and the
possibility of a wholesale shuffle in the leadership lineup 10 months before
midterm elections.
Democrats, eager to take control of the House in November, reacted to DeLay's
announcement with studied indifference.
"The culture of corruption is so pervasive in the Republican conference that
a single person stepping down is not nearly enough to clean up the Republican
Congress," said Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader.
Added Rep. Rahm Emanuel, chairman of the House Democratic campaign
organization: "With the permanence of their special interest philosophy, a
change in the Republican cast of characters simply doesn't matter."
Democrats must gain 15 seats in November to win control of the 435-member
House.
At a news conference in Texas, DeLay said he had called Hastert on
Saturday to inform him of his decision. "Our success in lowering taxes, creating
jobs, growing the economy and providing effective national security was helped
by Tom Delay's leadership," the speaker said in a statement.
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