Dec. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said that he expects money-laundering charges against him pending in Texas will be dismissed as early as this month and insisted he sees no sign House Republicans want to hold an election to replace him.

``There is no leadership election, and there is no scheduled leadership election, and there can't be a leadership election until a vote of the conference removing me from office,'' DeLay, a Republican, told reporters today at the U.S. Capitol. ``I'm still the elected majority leader.''

DeLay stepped aside from his leadership post in September when he was indicted by a Texas grand jury.

A Texas judge yesterday dismissed one count of conspiracy to violate the election code, while ordering DeLay to stand trial on money-laundering charges in connection with the alleged funneling of corporate donations to Texas statehouse candidates in 2002.

Some House Republicans have said that leadership elections will be needed if DeLay's legal troubles aren't resolved before they return late in January to begin work for 2006. When DeLay stepped down, House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican, took over the post on an acting basis.

Representative Tom Reynolds of New York, who now chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, made clear today he will not seek the majority leader post if there are elections next year. Reynolds sent letters to House Speaker Dennis Hastert indicating he will stay in his party post through 2006 and saying discussion of a leadership fight diverts energy from the agenda and preparations for the congressional elections next year.

House Divided

House Republicans today were divided over how to proceed. To replace him, 50 House Republicans would need to sign a petition calling for leadership elections, and then a majority of the House's 230 Republicans would have to vote to proceed.

Representative Chris Shays, a Connecticut Republican, said he has little doubt that enough Republicans will want to replace DeLay by next January or February. The Justice Department is investigating Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, whom DeLay once described as a close friend and accompanied on a golfing trip to the U.K. in 2000. Shays said members will need to distance themselves during an election year in which Democrats are making ethics a top issue.

``I think we need to move on,'' Shays said.

Representative Dan Burton, an Indiana Republican, said he expects many members won't talk about new leadership elections until early February, once DeLay -- a party leader since 1992 -- has had his day in court or the charges are dismissed.

``Part of his case was dropped, and we're going to have to see what happens by early next year,'' Burton said.

Feeney

Representative Tom Feeney, a Florida Republican, said he favors allowing the interim leadership team to stay in place without elections and push the matter off without a divisive fight. Blunt is managing House policy along with Hastert, chief deputy majority whip Eric Cantor, and House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier.

```I think it would be an unnecessary distraction at this time,'' Feeney said. ``I think things are running pretty well.''

DeLay said today after a policy meeting with Republican leaders that the Texas judge might rule this month on a defense motion alleging prosecutorial misconduct that could result in a dismissal of the remaining charges.

``This is the first time in history that money-laundering has been connected to campaign finance,'' he said.

To contact the reporters on this story: Laura Litvan in Washington at llitvan@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: December 6, 2005 20:12 EST