Ind.'s Dan Burton won't run again

INDIANAPOLIS - Rep. Dan Burton (R., Ind.), whose ardent investigations of Bill Clinton in the 1990s lifted his national profile, announced Tuesday that he is ending a three-decade congressional career because of an undisclosed family health concern.

Speaking before the Indiana House, where he began his career in elected office, Burton said he would not run again when his term ends this year. He prevailed in tough GOP primary battles the last two elections and was expected to face another this year, but he told reporters before the speech that was not the reason for his retirement.

"I don't want to get into it," he said. "It's about personal problems with family health."

Burton, 73, who was elected to his 15th term in November 2010, doggedly pursued Clinton through the 1990s as chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. In 1994, he told House colleagues he shot a watermelon with his rifle as part of a bizarre reenactment of the alleged murder of Clinton aide Vince Foster. Foster's death was ruled a suicide.

As Burton grilled then-President Clinton for his infidelity during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, Burton was forced to acknowledge an extramarital affair after it was discovered he had a child out of wedlock.

Indiana Republicans redrew Burton's congressional district last year to remove some of his strongest bases of support. A strong crop of contenders led by former federal prosecutor Susan Brooks and former Rep. David McIntosh has been running hard against Burton in the Republican primary race.

Burton said he had no plans to endorse a successor.