DeLay Is Again Rebuked on Ethics

WASHINGTON — House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) was unanimously rebuked by the ethics committee Wednesday for involving a federal agency in a Texas partisan matter and staging a fundraiser in a way that appeared to link access to the congressman with political donations.

It was the second time in a week that DeLay, who ranks second in the House GOP hierarchy, had been admonished by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct for his hard-nosed tactics. The panel has five Republican and five Democratic members.

"In view of the number of instances to date in which the committee has found it necessary to comment on conduct in which you have engaged, it is clearly necessary for you to temper your future actions to assure that you are in full compliance at all times with the applicable House rules and standards of conduct," the committee said.

In a statement, DeLay said Wednesday night that he considered the ethics matter dismissed, but noted: "I accept the committee's guidance."

Observers said that the committee's action could affect DeLay's political future. One conservative watchdog group, Judicial Watch, called on DeLay to step down as majority leader.

"Some large battleships can remain afloat after taking one torpedo," said Don Kettl, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania. "But a second can disable them or bring them down. DeLay was heavily wounded by the first rebuke. The second could cripple him at best -- or cost him his leadership position at worst."

DeLay, 57, was elected to Congress in 1984 and became majority leader two years ago. Known as "the Hammer," he has played a key role in setting the House legislative agenda. For example, he recently prevented the House from voting on an extension of the ban on assault weapons -- a measure he opposed.

In his statement, DeLay said: "For years, Democrats have hurled relentless personal attacks at me, hoping to tie my hands and smear my name. All have fallen short, not because of insufficient venom, but because of insufficient merit."

Among DeLay's activities cited by the committee was his involvement in efforts to find Democratic state legislators who fled the Texas capital in 2003, hoping by their absence to prevent the Republican-controlled Legislature from redrawing congressional district boundaries.