Tom DeLay chronology
Nov. 21, 2005: Michael Scanlon, a former public relations consultant who was DeLay's press secretary when the Texan was majority whip, pleads guilty in federal court to conspiring to bribe public officials in a scheme to defraud several Indian tribes of nearly $53 million. The plea agreement requires Scanlon to cooperate with the Justice Department in a continuing lobbying corruption probe, which centers on Abramoff.
Dec. 5, 2005: A state judge dismisses one of the September 28 conspiracy charges against DeLay but upholds the subsequent charges, dimming DeLay's hopes for a speedy trial before the House reconvenes in late January 2006.
Dec. 17, 2005: State prosecutors appeal the dismissal of the first charge against DeLay in the Texas Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Trial Judge Pat Priest delays further proceedings in the case until after the appeal can be decided.
Jan. 3, 2006: Abramoff pleads guilty to federal charges of conspiracy, tax evasion, and mail fraud and agrees to cooperate in an influence-peddling investigation that threatens powerful members of Congress. DeLay abandons his bid to resume his post as House majority leader.Jan. 6, 2006: More than two dozen House Republicans reportedly sign a petition circulated by Reps. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Charles Bass of New Hampshire that calls for midterm leadership elections.
Jan. 7, 2006: DeLay announces he will not seek to reclaim his leadership post. He tells colleagues he will run for re-election to his congressional seat in November while he works "to clear my name of the baseless charges leveled against me."
March 29, 2006: Abramoff and former business partner Adam Kidan are sentenced in Miami to nearly six years in prison but are allowed to remain free while they help a congressional corruption investigation in Washington.
March 31, 2006: Tony Rudy, a onetime aide to DeLay, pleads guilty in Washington to conspiracy and promises to cooperate with a federal investigation of bribery and lobbying fraud.
April 3, 2006: DeLay announces he will resign his seat and won't seek re-election to Congress in the fall.
Sources: CQ Today, Associated Press
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