Former congressman leaves law firm

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey said Friday In Washington he is leaving his law firm after negative publicity from his role in organizing protests.

The Texas Republican is resigning his role as a senior policy adviser for DLA Piper, an international law firm that is one of the largest in the world, Politico reported.

Armey issued a statement saying he was concerned about negative attention his grassroots organization, FreedomWorks, is drawing. The group is helping to organize protesters at healthcare town hall meetings with members of Congress.

The negative publicity is spilling over to the law firm, he said.

"It is painful and frustrating to see a good, decent, able and effective partnership of honorable men and women and their clients attacked for things in which they are not involved simply because of their association with me," Armey said in his statement. "One would expect a higher degree of competence and professionalism from members of the media than spurious attacks on innocent bystanders."