House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), who said this week that Washington lobbyists who billed tribal clients $66 million should stop trading on his name, has been rebuked for trading influence on the House floor.

According to a special ethics panel, DeLay offered to support the son of Rep. Nick Smith (R-Michigan) if Smith voted for a Medicare prescription drug bill that Republicans wanted to pass. Smith had been wavering on the measure.

The panel did not recommend any punishment for DeLay. He had denied offering political favors.

DeLay has been linked to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee's investigation of two lobbyists. Tribal leaders said Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon boasted of their access to DeLay and that making contributions to political committees and charitable organizations would impress DeLay.

Get the Story:
Ethics Panel Rebukes DeLay (The Washington Post 10/1)
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House Ethics Panel Says DeLay Tried to Trade Favor for a Vote (The New York Times 10/1)
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