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."

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.