WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- House Majority Leader Tom DeLay Tuesday denied reports he violated House ethics rules on a trip to London five years ago.
DeLay was responding to questions stemming from a report in the National Journal Friday that embattled lobbyist Jack Abramoff paid some of the powerful Texas Republican's expenses during a trip to England and Scotland in 2000.
DeLay said his expenses were paid by the National Center for Public Policy and Research, a conservative non-profit group.
In response to the report, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Maryland, called Monday on the Ethics Committee to investigate whether DeLay violated House ethics rules with the trip. Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Tuesday the issue would be the first test of the body's ethics process since the GOP made changes for the 109th Congress.
Abramoff, a political ally of DeLay's, is currently under federal investigation for his dealings with Indian tribes.
DeLay also said the controversy surrounding Abramoff has not hurt him politically.
"Jack Abramoff is not the only person I talk to in Washington, D.C," said DeLay. "I have hundreds of relationships. I go about my job. Jack Abramoff's got his own problems."
