(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Judicial Watch, the conservative public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, today called on Rep. Tom DeLay to step down as House Majority Leader in the wake of the bipartisan House Ethics Committee’s recent findings that he acted improperly in attempting to win a vote from Rep. Nick Smith in exchange for endorsing Smith’s son in a congressional primary.  It is the second time that DeLay has been chastised by the ethics panel.

Smith in December 2003 was pressured heavily by colleagues to vote in favor of the Medicare prescription drug bill.  He claimed that in exchange for his support for the legislation several House members offered financial backing and endorsements for his son’s primary campaign.  Smith voted against the legislation; his son lost his primary race in August.

A report issued Sept. 30 by the ethics committee [Click here to read the report.] – officially the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct – said that an investigative subcommittee recommended only that DeLay, Smith and Rep. Candice Miller should be publicly admonished for their conduct.  DeLay admitted offering his endorsement to Smith’s son.  Said the report:  “In the view of the Investigative Subcommittee, this conduct could support a finding that Majority Leader DeLay violated House rules. … it is improper for a Member to offer or link support for the personal interests of another Member as part of a quid pro quo to achieve a legislative goal.”  Miller said she told Smith she would not support his son; other witnesses said she vowed to help defeat him.  Smith was cited for public statements he made in the weeks following the vote that he was offered “bribes” for his support for the Medicare bill, allegations for which the subcommittee says it found no evidence.

The ethics subcommittee focused most of its attention on Smith’s public statements, which the Michigan Republican made in several forums, about the efforts made by others to change his vote.  Smith failed to fully cooperate with the subcommittee and back pedaled from his earlier allegations during testimony before the panel. 

“Frankly, the ethics report was too kind to Mr. DeLay and the other House members implicated in the controversy.  Mr. DeLay’s actions in trying to trade a political endorsement for a vote were inappropriate and unacceptable, and given this grave ethical lapse, he should step down as Majority Leader.  The Republican Party should not countenance its leadership violating House rules and standards of ethical behavior,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.