The Galveston County Daily News

Under constant fire from Democrats, indicted on state charges and embroiled in a federal investigation, Tom DeLay said Monday he would retire from the U.S. House of Representatives and move to the Washington, D.C., area, abandoning the office he has held since 1984.

In exclusive interviews Monday with The Galveston County Daily News and Time magazine, the 11-term Republican congressman from Sugar Land said his decision was best for his district and based on troubling internal polling numbers.

“It is obvious that this district is very polarized,” said DeLay, whose district includes part of Galveston County.

“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 he and his staff scrutinized internal polls in December and again after the March GOP primary and didn’t like what they saw.

Those polls showed him beating Democrat Nick Lampson in the general election but in a race that would be too close for comfort, DeLay said.

“Luckily there were more people that loved me than hated me,” said DeLay. “Even though I thought I could win, it was a little too risky.”

DeLay has spent the better part of two years battling ethics complaints, and he was forced to abandon his job as majority leader while facing a state indictment on charges that he improperly funneled corporate donations to Republican candidates for the state Legislature.

He has also been dogged by questions about his ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and former staffer members have been swept up in an ever-expanding federal investigation into lobbying corruption.

DeLay maintains he has done nothing illegal nor violated any U.S. House rules. He claims the money laundering charges he faces in Travis County are political retribution.

He also argues the lobbying scandal, while tainting close associates and former staff members, does not implicate him.

But after a speech last week at a conference of the Christian group Vision America, he decided he could be more effective pushing the conservative agenda outside of Capital Hill, DeLay said.

“I can continue to be a leader of the conservative cause,” he said. “I can do more to grow the Republican majority, rather than spend the next eight months locked down in running a campaign.”

The congressman, who informed party leaders of his decision late Monday, said his departure from office would depend on the congressional schedule, but he said he expected it would be in late May or mid-June.

The Election

DeLay said he planned to move to a house he has in Virginia near Washington, D.C. By doing so, he would no longer be eligible to run for Congress in Texas.

With the primary already past, party leaders will have to select a candidate to run against Lampson, Libertarian Bob Smither and perhaps former Republican congressman Steve Stockman running as an independent.

DeLay said that decision would be up to the Texas GOP’s executive committee.

“I should not play the role to play kingmaker,” said DeLay, who first was elected to public office as a Texas House member in 1978.

Whoever is tapped will get his support, DeLay said, and that candidate will win because Lampson’s No. 1 issue will be gone.

“I imagine that this is the worst news he could get,” said DeLay. “He is going to have to tell people what he is for.”

DeLay’s exit also robs Democrats of a handy target for national attacks on the Republican Party and may take the national spin off the race.

“I would assume, being the realist I am that Mr. Lampson is going to have a hard time keeping this a national race,” DeLay said.

But Lampson said he his campaign has been more than just getting out the anti-DeLay vote.

“For the past several weeks, I have been traveling this district talking to voters about my vision to improve homeland security, cut our skyrocketing deficits and debt, increase support for NASA and help our educational system,” said Lampson. “This campaign is about bringing mainstream Texas values back to the 22nd congressional district, and I will continue to work hard toward that goal. No matter who I face in the general election, I am going to fight hard and I am going to win in November.”

Admits Some Regrets

While insistent that his own actions are above reproach, DeLay admits that staffers and close friends face serious trouble.

He said he regretted hiring some people and claims they betrayed his trust.

“I regret having people on my staff who I trusted who have disappointed me,” DeLay said.

Those trusted staff members include former deputy chief of staff Tony Rudy and his former boss.

According to reports, Rudy, in a plea deal with federal prosecutors looking into the lobbying scandal, pointed the finger at former DeLay chief of staff Ed Buchman.

The former DeLay aide did not implicate the congressman. DeLay said federal prosecutors have told his lawyers that he is not a focus of the investigation.

Proud Of His Work

The second-floor foyer of DeLay’s Sugar Land home is a monument to his political career starting with a framed copy of a 1978 front page of the Rosenberg Herald Coaster.

The top story?

DeLay’s victory for a state House seat.

From there it’s a chronology of his career, including photos with his hero, President Ronald Reagan. There is even a Polaroid photo, taken by President George H.W. Bush, of DeLay and his wife, Christine, sitting in the Lincoln bedroom.

“This is the story of my life in politics,” said DeLay.

A portion of the display includes a framed cover of the New Republic magazine with caricatures of DeLay and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich marking the Republican takeover of Congress in 1995.

He said working to get that Republican majority, especially in the House, and creating what he contends is a “permanent majority” are his proudest accomplishments.

“We have put together the largest political coalition in my lifetime,” said DeLay. “We have had an effect on the culture of Washington, D.C.”

That culture change led to reforms in welfare, a series of tort reform measures, tax cuts and the partial birth abortion ban, DeLay said.

DeLay remained unapologetic for pushing for those causes and said he would continue to hammer away at them after he leaves office.

“There’s a lot more that needs to be done that I can have an impact with,” said DeLay. “Frankly I am a little excited about the prospects.”

TOM DELAY PROFILE

Home: Sugar Land.

Age: 58. April 8, 1947.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of Houston, 1970.

THE DELAY FILE

Owner, Albo Pest Control, 1973-84; Texas House 1979-84.

U.S. House 1984-present.

House majority whip 1994-2002.

House majority leader 2002-2005.

Indicted by a Travis County Grand Jury on charges he was part of a plan to funnel corporate donations to state house candidates.

DeLay steps down as majority leader in September 2005.

Announces he will not seek to regain his post as majority leader in January 2006. Announces he will retire from office and move to Virginia in April 2006.