US Representative Tom DeLay, under indictment on criminal charges in Texas, announced today that he will not try to reclaim his job as majority leader of the House of Representatives.
Mr DeLay, known as 'The Hammer' for maintaining party discipline, was forced to temporarily relinquish his leadership post in September, after he was charged with violations of Texas election laws and money laundering.
A court has cleared him of the first charge but let the second
one stand.
His decision comes as a growing number of Republicans in Congress urged him to abandon his leadership position.
A petition advocating such a step was circulated in the House on Friday.
Concerns among Republicans about their own future in light of
mid-term congressional elections in November were reinforced after influential lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who has close ties to the Republican Party and to DeLay, pleaded guilty Tuesday in a criminal case over influence peddling in Congress.
