Former U.S. House majority leader Tom DeLay confirms on Tuesday that he will resign from Congress. (Xinhua/AFP photo)

    WASHINGTON, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Succumbing to scandal, former U.S. House majority leader Tom DeLay confirmed on Tuesday that he will resign from Congress.

    During an interview with Fox News, the primary architect of the Republican majority said he would resign rather than face a difficult race for re-election, which now seems unwinnable.

    DeLay said he made the decision in the interests of his party and the "conservative course."

    But he did not make it clear when he will formally quit. Some of his Republican allies said previously that he will likely leave Congress by June.

    Earlier in the day, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said DeLay called U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday to discuss the issue.

    "Congressman DeLay has been a good ally whom the president has worked very closely with. This is a decision that Congressman DeLay made and we respect his decision," he said.

    DeLay, who will turn 59 on Saturday, gave up the post as House majority leader last autumn after his indictment in Texas surrounding an investigation into the allegedly illegal use of funds for state legislative races.

    He has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and even capped a triumph in a contested Republican primary earlier this year with avow to win re-election.

    However, things changed recently when Tony C. Rudy, DeLay's former deputy chief of staff, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and corruption charges, and confessed that he had taken illegal actions while working in his office.

    It is not clear whether a special election will be held to fill out the unexpired portion of DeLay's term, or whether the seat will remain vacant until it is filled in November's congressional elections.

    Until scandal sent him to the sidelines, DeLay had held leadership posts since the Republicans won control of the House in their 1994 landslide.

    He was the driving force behind former U.S. President Bill Clinton's impeachment in 1999.

    DeLay was elected as House majority leader in 2002 and had served for nearly three years. Enditem