When Chris Bell (lameduck Democrat congressman) levied “ethics violation” charges against Tom DeLay, it was enough to run him out of leadership (and eventually out of Congress) even though the charges were eventually defeated.
DWI is but one tool in their arsenal.
Just my opinion but the Dems tried to run Delay from his position several times on trumped up ethics violations for years; only in 2005 (or 2003) after years of filing them did they make them stick. I think he was setup from the gitgo on BS. I’ve met him and he’s genuine and down to earth; not like so many of the other politicians you come across.