Rumors are running rampant on capitol hill that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) could be planning to step down from his leadership position, possibly as early as next month. Reid has been tarnished recently by the revelation that the Abramoff scandal, which he attempted to paint as a "Republican" problem, reached his office as well, with $60,000 from Indian tribes linked to Abramoff being accepted by his Political Action Committee.
Reid has a long history with both gambling and scandal, being investigated by the Justice Department for taking bribes from attorneys for mafia members while serving as the head of the Nevada Gaming Commission. As recently as last month, Reid endorsed current Las Vegas mayor and former mob lawyer Oscas Goodman as a "very strong candidate" to challenge incumbent Republican John ensign for the other Nevada senate seat.
Reid is also the subject of animosity from the left side of the congressional aisle for "capitulating" to President Bush on the Alito nomination, originially refusing to support a potential filibuster because there clearly were not enough votes for it to succeed. He eventually signed on to the effort, even though it was obviously doomed from the beginning, as a response to mounting pressure from left-wing groups. He characterized his ultimate support for the filibuster as taking the opportunity to "express [his] opinion as to what a bad choice [Alito] was."
http://www.redstate.com/print/2006/1/28/225229/236
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