Abramoff Scandal Claims Its First Victim

The ongoing Jack Abramoff political scandal has now claimed its first victim: House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

For those readers of this blog from outside the United States, Jack Abramoff is a Republican lobbyist who recently agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy, mail fraud, and tax evasion. But he has also agreed to tell prosecutors and the FBI about alleged bribes to members of Congress and their aids on issues ranging from Internet gambling to wireless phone service in the House of Representatives.

As you can imagine, many members of Congress are now nervous of what Abramoff might say. To top that off -- many politicians, including President George W. Bush, are either returning contributions from Abramoff or donating them to charity.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has been closely linked with Abramoff. But DeLay has his own problems -- he is currently under indictment in Texas. He temporarily stepped down as Majority Leader to fight the charges, planning on coming back to power in a short while. However, today his office released the following letter to Republican members of the House:

Dear Colleague:

Today, I have asked Speaker Hastert to convene our conference for the purpose of electing a new majority leader, the position I have been honored to fill these past three years through the trust and confidence of our colleagues.

During my time in Congress, I have always acted in an ethical manner within the rules of our body and the laws of our land. I am fully confident time will bear this out.

However, we live in serious times and the United States House of Representatives must be focused on the job of protecting our nation and meeting the daily challenges facing the American people. History has proven that when House Republicans are united and focused, success follows.

While we wage these important battles, I cannot allow our adversaries to divide and distract our attention. I will continue to stand up for the issues I care so deeply about and work with you all on these priorities. I am constantly thankful for the support of my constituents in recent days as well as over the years they have allowed me to serve them. I will continue to work every day to fulfill their trust, and yours.

Regards,

Tom DeLay

Now this is a step in the right direction. However, this scandal is just scratching the surface. There is definitely more to come....stay tuned!!