DeLay won’t seek re-election

WASHINGTON - Succumbing to scandal, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said Tuesday he will resign from Congress in the face of a tough re-election race, closing out a career that blended unflinching conservatism with a bare-knuckled political style.

“I think I could have won this seat but it would have been nasty. It would have cost a fortune to do it,” DeLay said in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday.

In a statement to constituents, DeLay said, “I have no fear whatsoever about any investigation into me or my personal or professional activities.”

At the same time, he said, “I refuse to allow liberal Democrats an opportunity to steal this seat with a negative, personal campaign.”

He said the voters of his Houston-area district “deserve a campaign about the vital national issues that they care most about ... and not a campaign focused solely as a referendum on me.”

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews reported Monday evening that DeLay told him in an interview that “the polling on him in the 22nd District was going down,” as a result of his part in a campaign contribution controversy.

“He (DeLay) expected to take a beating all summer on this,” Matthews reported. “I guess he felt the beating was going to continue.”

DeLay relinquished the post as House majority leader last fall after his indictment in Texas as part of an investigation into the allegedly illegal use of funds for state legislative races. He decided in January against trying to get the leadership post back as an election-year corruption scandal staggered Republicans and emboldened minority Democrats.

Guilty plea from former aide
Last week, former DeLay aide Tony Rudy pleaded guilty to conspiring with lobbyist Jack Abramoff and others to corrupt public officials, and he promised to help the broad federal investigation of bribery and lobbying fraud that already has resulted in three convictions.

The White House has always struggled to express the president's support for DeLay because, well, Bush doesn't really support him — he's always endured him. DeLay has been a presidential ally even though Bush never much cared for him personally, nor did he feel his style helped the party. — David Gregory, chief White House correspondent Read more in The Daily Nightly

Neither Rudy, Abramoff nor anyone else connected with the investigation has publicly accused DeLay of breaking the law, but Rudy confessed that he had taken actions while working in the majority leader’s office that were illegal. DeLay has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a major player in congressional investigations of Abramoff and the lobbyist’s involvement with Indian tribes, said Tuesday that he respects DeLay’s decision to step down, and added, “I think there are other aspects of the Abramoff scandal that will be unfolding in the weeks ahead.”

McCain spoke to reporters following a speech to a Hispanic conference.

President Bush said Tuesday that DeLay had informed him of his decision Monday afternoon.

“I wish him all the best,” Bush told reporters during a brief White House session, adding, “It had to have been a very difficult decision for someone who loved representing his district in the state of Texas.”

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