Top House Democrats today condemned Representative Tom DeLay, the leader of the Republican majority, declaring that the latest ethics case against him proved that he had been corrupted by power and was unfit to lead.

"The ethical cloud that has been hanging over the Capitol has burst," Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the Democratic leader, said at a news briefing. "Mr. DeLay has proven himself to be ethically unfit to lead the party.

complete New York Times story