WASHINGTON — Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, once one of the most influential Republicans in Congress, told colleagues Monday night that he was dropping plans to seek reelection -- a surprise move that will end his tumultuous congressional career.
DeLay, who faces money-laundering charges in his home state of Texas, said he would probably step down in May, apparently in response to polls showing that he risked losing his seat in congressional elections this fall.
His decision, to be announced formally in Texas today, comes as Democrats have pointed to his troubles and the political corruption investigation on Capitol Hill in an effort to highlight ethics in their campaign to wrest House control from Republicans.
DeLay's decision comes days after one of his former aides pleaded guilty in the influence-peddling scandal involving disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, also once a DeLay associate.
DeLay has denied any wrongdoing, contending that Democrats have targeted him in an effort to derail a conservative agenda that made him a darling of the right.
But his troubles at home were also becoming apparent.
In 2004, DeLay, who was first elected in 1984, won with 55% of the vote. This year he would have faced a challenge from former U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, a Democrat who lost his seat in a controversial DeLay-engineered redrawing of Texas congressional district boundaries.
DeLay's decision to step down was first reported on the website of Time magazine and by a small newspaper in Texas.
"It was obvious to me that the 22nd District deserved more than an election that was turning into a referendum on me rather than what was important to the district," DeLay said in an interview with the Galveston County Daily News.
In an interview posted Monday on Time's website, DeLay said: "I'm a realist. I've been around awhile. I can evaluate political situations. And it was obvious to me that the 22nd District needed an election that discussed issues. It was obvious to me that this election had become a referendum on me."
DeLay also told the magazine that although he thought he could have won the race, "I just felt like I didn't want to risk the seat and that I can do more on the outside of the House than I can on the inside right now. I want to continue to fight for the conservative cause. I want to continue to work for a Republican majority."
DeLay's decision stunned Capitol Hill.
