House Ethics Committee Chides DeLay on Conduct

The House ethics committee has privately chastised House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas) for threatening a Washington trade association with retaliation last year for hiring a prominent Democrat as its president, sources said Thursday.

Although the panel has not released its letter cautioning DeLay about his conduct, the committee did issue a public memorandum this week warning House members, officers and employees against linking their official actions to partisan considerations.

The sources said the memo was prompted by concern over DeLay’s role last year in trying to pressure the Electronic Industries Alliance into dropping plans to hire a Democrat, former representative David McCurdy of Oklahoma, as its president. House GOP leaders last fall postponed votes on implementing an international treaty desired by the association to show its displeasure with the group’s decision not to hire retiring Rep. Bill Paxon, a leading Republican.

The letter to DeLay highlighted a certain apprehension among House members about the tactics of DeLay, who has accumulated considerable power in the House through his successful fund-raising, aggressive courtship of lobbyists and knack for counting votes. A favorite target of many Democrats, DeLay was a leading proponent of the impeachment of President Clinton.

The private letter also offered a rare instance in which the ethics committee acted without receiving a formal complaint. It appeared to reflect the more low-key manner in which the committee, which was once at the center of numerous House controversies, is trying to manage its affairs.

Sources said the letter to DeLay mirrored the public letter sent out this week to House members. That memo stated that “government officials, including House members and staff, are prohibited from taking or withholding any official action on the basis of the partisan affiliation or the campaign contributions or support of involved individuals, or the prospect of personal gain either for oneself or anyone else.

“House members and staff are likewise prohibited from threatening punitive action on the basis of such considerations,” added the memo from committee Chairman Lamar S. Smith (R-Texas).

DeLay’s deputy chief of staff, Tony Rudy, declined to discuss the inquiry in detail but said: “We’re very pleased the committee has disposed of this matter.”