09-28-2005
HOUSE LEADERSHIP - DeLay Indicted, Compelled To Give Up Leadership
PositionSusan Davis
© National Journal Group, Inc.
A Texas grand jury today indicted House Majority Leader DeLay, forcing him to relinquish his leadership position for the foreseeable future. The House Republican Conference is scheduled to meet this afternoon to vote on DeLay's replacement. According to GOP House members and aides, Majority Whip Blunt is expected to serve dual roles, temporarily taking over for DeLay. Those sources said the Republican Conference is likely to approve that arrangement. DeLay denounced the indictment as a political maneuver by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, who brought the charges. This was "a reckless charge wholly unsupported by the facts," DeLay said, adding that Earle and others conducted "a coordinated premeditated campaign of political retribution." DeLay declared, "I have done nothing wrong." His spokesman said: "This is a political vendetta that Mr. Earle has engaged in. They could not get Tom DeLay at the polls, they could not get Mr. DeLay on the House floor, and now they are trying to get him in the courtroom. ... This is not going to distract from the Republican agenda; he is going to make that very clear," the spokesman added. National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Thomas Reynolds of New York issued a strong statement in support of DeLay, denouncing Earle as an "unapologetic Democrat partisan." Blunt issued a statement praising DeLay and blaming partisan politics for the indictment. Immediate reaction to the indictment was generally muted from members on both sides of the aisle.
The timing of the indictment is a double hit for Republicans, as it coincides with ethical questions aimed at Senate Majority Leader Frist over the sale of stock in a company owned by his family. "It's a very corrupt political operation and more and more it's beginning to show," said Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., who added, "It's another indication of just how corrupt the Republican leadership is right now." However, other Democrats were more tempered in their criticism. "We have to be very careful how we handle this," said Ways and Means ranking member Charles Rangel of New York. Rangel expressed concern that the indictment would spur negative public sentiment toward Congress as a whole. "We, as a party, should redouble our efforts to work and get things done," added Rep. Harold Ford Jr., D-Tenn. Rank-and-file Republicans reiterated partisan criticisms against Earle, pointing to his failed 1994 indictment of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. "Ronnie Earle's actions speak for themselves," said Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas. "Usually, where I come from, they don't hang anyone until the trial's over," he said.
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said President Bush stands by his previous statements that DeLay is an effective leader. "Yes, Congressman DeLay is a good ally, a leader who we have worked with to get things done for the American people," McClellan said, adding: "We could rush to judgment, but I don't think that's fair. There's a legal process that needs to work out."
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