It's official. From Yahoo News! via the AP:WASHINGTON - Rep. Tom DeLay, the defiant face of a conservative revolution in Congress, stepped down as House majority leader on Saturday 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 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."
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 Reps. Roy Blunt of Ohio, the GOP whip, and John Boehner of Ohio, a former member of the leadership, making clear their intentions to run.
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 Jan. 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.
He fell on his sword, for the good of the party. I don't think he should be prosecuted, as I think Ronnie Earle's entire prosecution resembles 1600s Salem more than 21st Century America. Of course, Nancy "My Daddy was a Mafia Godfather" Pelosi chimed in in her usual hypocritical fashion:
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 (news, bio, voting record) of California, the Democratic leader.
Uh, Nancy, need I remind you of the list we have compiled here about your own party? Hmm?
and...
Nancy Needs to Look at Her Own Violations
The FEC has laid the smack down on two of Ms. Mafiosi Pelosi's PACS for illegal behavior and fundraising. Will she step down now, as Tom DeLay has, especially considering that DeLay has not been convicted of anything yet, while her PACs have been fined and convicted? Hmm? From the article:
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has fined two leadership PACs associated with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in response to a Complaint filed by the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) on October 25, 2002. The FEC also has fined three campaigns that failed to return excessive contributions from Pelosi’s PACs within 60 days, as required by law.And there is more..Go read the whole thing.
Under conciliation agreements reached with the FEC, Pelosi’s two committees — PAC to the Future and Team Majority — will pay $21,000. Julie Thomas for Congress Campaign Committee (D–IA) and Van Hollen for Congress (D–MD) will each pay $2,500, and Joe Turnham for Congress (D–AL) will pay $2,000. The three campaigns also agreed to disgorge $5,000 each to the U.S. Treasury.
Law Circumvented
In its Complaint, NLPC alleged that Pelosi violated federal election law by operating two “leadership” political action committees (PACs) in order to circumvent contribution limits. Members of the Democrat and Republican leaderships in the House and Senate may legally have one so-called leadership PAC in addition to their own campaign committee. The purpose of leadership PACs is to make contributions to the campaigns of other Congressional candidates.
