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twitterThe Senator’s Scandal:
E-mails pull Ensign back in affair cauldron
They reveal some GOP officials knew of trysts last summer, prolonging senator’s struggle
Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009 | 2 a.m.
New Details, seg. 1
What did they know, and when did they know it? That is the question facing Republicans amid the revelation that GOP staff knew about U.S. Sen. John Ensign's affair with a former staff member before the 2008 election. Jon asks conservative political consultant Steve Wark and liberal blogger Erin Neff about that and a court ruling that could change the face of political campaigns in Nevada.
New Details, seg. 2
What did they know, and when did they know it? That is the question facing Republicans amid the revelation that GOP staff knew about U.S. Sen. John Ensign's affair with a former staff member before the 2008 election. Jon asks conservative political consultant Steve Wark and liberal blogger Erin Neff about that and a court ruling that could change the face of political campaigns in Nevada.
New Details, seg. 3
What did they know, and when did they know it? That is the question facing Republicans amid the revelation that GOP staff knew about U.S. Sen. John Ensign's affair with a former staff member before the 2008 election. Jon asks conservative political consultant Steve Wark and liberal blogger Erin Neff about that and a court ruling that could change the face of political campaigns in Nevada.
Sun Coverage
Sun Archives
- E-mails show Ensign's staff knew of affair (8-3-2009)
- In latest blow, Ensign's top staffers depart (7-28-2009)
- Ensign: 'Sorry this issue has caused embarrassment' (7-24-2009)
- Ensign loses another senior aide (7-23-2009)
- Ensign's chief of staff leaving (7-22-2009)
- Christian group paid for Ensign’s foreign travel (7-20-2009)
- Justice Department: Ensign complaint should go to FBI (7-20-2009)
- Behind the closed doors on C Street (7-19-2009)
- Ethics group amends Ensign complaint over $96,000 payment (7-17-2009)
- Ethics group amends Ensign complaint over $96,000 payment (7-17-2009)
- Ensign’s $96,000 question: Severance pay or gift to Hamptons? (7-16-2009)
- In D.C., some worry Ensign saga is not over (7-15-2009)
- Ensign gives first Senate speech since acknowledging affair (7-15-2009)
Sun Blogs
Washington — Republican Sen. John Ensign is methodically trying to turn the page after admitting to having an affair with a former campaign staffer, but new details make it difficult to move on as the story is still being written.
E-mails obtained Monday by Las Vegas Sun columnist Jon Ralston show that Ensign’s top staff at the National Republican Senatorial Committee knew of the affair last summer, before the party suffered severe losses in the 2008 election that put Democrats in sight of a filibuster-proof Senate.
Ensign largely received a pass from his colleagues after the devastating electoral defeat as eight Republican seats eventually switched to Democratic control. Mostly, they blamed the outcome on a bad year for the party as President George W. Bush’s popularity plummeted.
Even as it was disclosed last month that the senator’s parents gave $96,000 last year to the family of the woman, Ensign’s colleagues were reluctant to connect any dots stemming from the affair to the party’s losses.
Ensign in June admitted to having an affair with the former staffer, Cynthia Hampton, from December 2007 to August 2008. Her husband, Doug Hampton, had been one of the senator’s top aides and one of the senator’s best friends.
The new e-mails show in emotional detail the strain those involved faced.
Ensign’s top staff members at the campaign committee were Mike and Lindsey Slanker, the husband-wife team that also runs the Nevada-based consulting firm November Inc.
Mike Slanker worked as the national senatorial committee’s political director during the 2008 election cycle, and Lindsey Slanker was the national committee’s financial director at the time.
The senator had been confronted about the affair by peers at the Christian C Street home he shares in Washington, and the Hamptons stopped working for the senator in April 2008. Ensign helped Doug Hampton get a job with November Inc.
The e-mails obtained by Ralston show that Mike and Lindsey Slanker struggled last summer with the fallout.
One e-mail exchange dated July 10, 2008, between Mike Slanker and Doug Hampton with the subject line “hey man” shows the men discussing the tension between their families and in the work environment.
“While we can’t possibly understand what you must be going through, we struggle with being in the cross-hairs,” Mike Slanker wrote. “We are happy to give Cindy space if that helps things ... If our relationship with John makes that more difficult then we won’t pressure her to spend time with us.”
Another e-mail that day from Lindsey Slanker to Cynthia Hampton further discusses the effect the situation has had on their friendship.
“I feel like since the moment the entire truth came out I have tried to be nothing but a friend ... whether by listening, giving you a place to stay, or by leaving you alone,” Lindsey Slanker wrote.
Mike Slanker had previously told the Associated Press he was unaware of the affair.
Ralston reported Monday that Slanker told him he did not intend to mislead the media, and only learned of the affair after he agreed to hire Doug Hampton. Later Ensign’s wife, Darlene Ensign, told him of the affair, he said.
Doug Hampton has previously offered a similar recounting, saying it was the senator’s wife who told Mike Slanker about the affair.
After the electoral losses in fall 2008, Ensign went on to be elected by his peers to party leadership and was sometimes discussed as a possible presidential candidate in 2012.
But Ensign resigned that No. 4 position in GOP Senate leadership after going public with the affair, and an ethics group has sought federal ethics investigations saying the $96,000 gift to the Hamptons could be a felony violation of campaign finance law.
Another e-mail obtained by Ralston shows Doug Hampton reached out to former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum to intervene, further raising questions if Santorum tipped off Ensign that the husband was taking the affair to the media.
Ensign went public with the affair because he knew the husband had approached a major TV station. Santorum is affiliated with Fox News, and Hampton had asked Fox for help. Santorum declined to address the question when asked recently by Politico.
As the details of the affair dripped out this summer, Ensign’s approval rating back home nose-dived. Once the most popular politician in Nevada, he saw his approval rating drop to 31 percent in a matter of months.
What bothered Nevadans most, according to results of the Las Vegas Review-Journal poll, was that the senator’s affair was with his best friend’s wife.
Crisis experts have said the best route for Ensign to rehabilitate his image is to show he is working hard and trying to reconnect with voters.
Ensign has been trying to do just that. He dashed off a letter last week with other Republican senators regarding recovery spending and twice in one day spoke on the Senate floor.
But even as he tries to move on, new questions develop. The Wichita Eagle in Kansas reported that the Ensign affair may spell trouble for the senator’s father, gaming mogul Mike Ensign, who has proposed a casino project in that state.
Kansas gaming officials confirmed Monday that the $96,000 Ensign’s parents gave will be part of their background investigation if Mike Ensign’s Prairie Sky Casino project is chosen to move forward for licensing.
“The winning group would go through a full background investigation in order to get the certification of the commission,” said Mike Deines, a spokesman for the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission.
A decision is expected later this year after the Kansas Lottery reviews the application. Lottery executive director Ed Van Petten said that if the project advances to the racing and gaming commission, “that issue will be looked at.”
Time may mend Ensign’s relationship with voters, and the senator is not up for reelection until 2012.
Ensign was always a popular but somewhat distant figure to Nevadans. The party in Nevada has declined to take any formal reprimand against the senator, but party leaders haven’t rallied prominently to his support.
And so Ensign must rebuild his standing slowly, one speech, one handshake at a time.
“He needs to be out there,” said Jennifer Duffy, a senior analyst at the Cook Political Report. “Voters need to see him working.”
Discussion: 28 comments so far…
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How shallow and fickle have we become?
"One handshake at a time" and Ensign gets reelected?
Nevada has some serious problems going on in the state.
Ensign probably will get reelected. Saying that? I have a feeling so will Gov. Gibbons.
Nothing surprises me anymore.
I guess our new claim to fame will put us at the top of another 100 list-
Nevada-
"Sleaziest State in America"
this story has more twists and turns than trying to raise a teenage daughter. nevada probably has enough rich retired people that will vote for him again.
Ensign needs a "new best friend"--preferably unmarried and with lots of money!
I nominate Senator Ensign for keynote speaker at the Family Research Council Family "Values" Conference!! Let's be honest about what their family values really stand for--and inspire the rest to do God's bidding!!
Tony Perkins and James Dobson ought to be proud!!! (refer to the Sunday School lesson previously posted!)
"The senator had been confronted about the affair by peers at the Christian C Street home he shares in Washington,"
^^^^^^^^^^^^
The "tax free" [c]hristian C Street, where its "Chosen" mafia "Family" members pay very low rent--yes, rent...when has a "church" EVER rented rooms to anyone, anywhere? Never.
Peers = "Chosen".
The 2 stories here are GOP HYPOCRISY, and the deceit of the C Streeters which are 99% GOP who are on a mission to obtain "Power" while using God and the Bible as their weapons to obtain/retain a following to remain in power, and use that power to spread their "C Street Family" message.
What is the message the "Stepford C Street Family" is trying to deliver both at home and internationally, under the guise of congressional members representing the United States of America, and why the secrecy? This is a national security threat. This is deadly serious stuff.
We must have answers to these questions.
Do not vote for any "Family" member--republican or Democrat. Their sneaky, underhanded "mission" needs to be taken the HE!! OUT of our congress and our government.
zzzzzzzzzz............
Someone should ask Ms. Hampton why she did not just say "NO"!
Of course you're bored, Rock-head. Your side has never held its own accountable. You always give them a pass. The GOP equals hypocrisy.
"The party in Nevada has declined to take any formal reprimand against the senator, but party leaders haven't rallied prominently to his support."
Why not? Because it says one thing and does something else and refuses to reprimand one of its' own when they are in the wrong. Ostrich behavior is evident. Bury your head and hope it goes away. We should kick all politicians out of office when there is evidence of wrong-doing. Have we become so corrupt that we will allow them to think they are better than we are and keep voting them into office? It remains to be seen.
Hey all. Today (August 4) on "Face to Face with Jon Ralston" we are talking about the latest developments in the Ensign scandal, as well as the political fallout from the Tarkanian-Schneider decision. That's at 5:30pm, 6:30pm and 8pm on Las Vegas ONE, Cox Cable Channel 19.
Mr "family values" has shown he has no concern for his family or for values by his behavior. He is a hypocrite to pretend to be pro family values, yet be against supporting gay and lesbian families in committed relationships seeking equality. These bible pounders need to read their own book . "let he with no sin cast the first stone" , but I guess that passage doesn't apply to the cheating senator, how convenient. Only the passages that are convenient to him and his kind to make their case of hate against gay and lesbian americans, another reason relegion and Ensign belong OUT of politics. Let's get real people this behavior is more of the same two face politics this country has had enough of....he needs to go.
The storyline seemed like it was something I wanted to read. I am not a fan of any of our Nevada Senators.
As soon as I saw Ralston's name (2nd paragraph) in this story. I stopped reading.
Honest.
what's the difference between a member of the "family" and a late night televangelist huckster???
hmmm???
nothing!!!
only thing is...
our poor poor terribly misguided republican friends just don't get it!!!
Cheating, coverup, hush money and entanglement of employees and friends and family. How ' sweet it is' as Jackie Gleason loved to say. Ensign's time is over and he needs to come back to the sweetness of casino life where he will still have power and and roof over his head. He has now proven his inability to represent the folks honestly and also as a Promise Keeper.
Do not be surprised if Senator Ensign gets re-elected. Morality has no place here. You can see that with the people we have running things around. Good people do not last long here. We have a lot of scumbags here and loving it. Once you have money, you got it made here. So, do not bet against him.
I have never been a fan of Ensign. I think it finally shows his true colors. He is the ultimate in being arrogant and not resigning. This should be all politicians who can't control themselves and keep pulling these stunts. Why is it the Republicans do something like this and it is acceptable and we should forgive them. When it is a Democrat it is attack now and throw them under the bus? The Republican party has become not only the party of no, but also a bunch of hypocrites. Republicans you better wake up and realize if you don't change your ways you will soon be a minority party. Of course that is my opinion and I could be wrong.
While I find Ensign's behavior deplorable, and totally hypocritical, I hope he doesn't resign.
I appreciate his votes on the issues I care about. That's all I need from a senator. Anyone looking to their politicians as a moral barometer is in serious trouble.
Why no surprise? For a year the story was known by staff and they sat on it. A major player of the Taliban-like 'Promise Keepers' and C Street 'Family' (How's that for a Manson-esque name?) was sexual with the wife of a friend, employee and supporter, but the response was silence and inaction. They are the ultimate role-models for criminals and hypocrites. Rev. Bookburn - Radio Volta
Still waiting for Senator Ensign to fulfill his pledge with an investigation of MSHA Boulder NV office for a cover-up of reported saftey violations. Hey Senator Ensign. . . who are you working hard for??? Remember your constituents???
Paul Rupp Box 125 Silver Peak NV 89047
Wow...big news....on Ralston tonight!!!!!!
OMG....there are EMAILS!!!!!
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..........
The new emails are NOTHING compared to what the two main un-heard from actors in this saga no doubt still have to say....Darlene and Cindy. When will they provide the real information? Or maybe they have traveled to Wisconsin to speak with the four women there who really know how to treat a philandering husband....get the wife and mistresses together and tie him to a bedpost and super-glue his perceived super rod to his belly....Now wouldn't THAT be a political love story worth hearing!
For sure Ralston and his Sun handlers will ride this non-story for a while until the naysayers go to sleep on it.
For sure Ralston and his Sun handlers will ride this non-story for a while until the naysayers go to sleep on it.
++++++++=
While Ralston is keeping this story front and center, Ensign's big problem is not the Las Vegas Sun's columnist. Ensign's biggest problem is his own Republican caucus in the Senate. They are not lifting one finger or saying one word in support of him. The longer this story keeps drip, drip, dripping from a thousand cuts, the more likely it seems he will be asked by his colleagues to step down for the good of the party.
American's did a pretty good job of voting out Republican clowns like this guy in the last election, but the ones that are left have been making so many headlines in the negative that it's more than obvious that there's still some work to be done! Why this moron thinks he can maintain credibility with the people is beyond ridiculous and those of you who think he serves your better interest's in the Senate despite his shortcomings really need to get a clue.
Morons who think the conservatives are almost gone from American political life are moronic, for sure. The pendulum swings from conservative/righteousness to liberal/leftwing every generation or two, and this period the morons are in charge, for now.
Ensign is a clown !!!!!!!,,, really, he's just a joke.
I still can't understand why he has not resigned yet, he asked EVERYONE else to step down when they got caught with the affair's they had, its just shocking he has not taken his own advice or taken the punishment he suggested for EVERYONE else.
The writer of this story wrote "Ensign must rebuild his standing slowly, one speech, one handshake at a time",,,, well first off, I would not shake his hand, I know were it's been.
A speech,, yea right,, Im sure it will be full of truth's.
Ensign banged his best friends wife while cheating on his own wife, thats about as low as you can get.
Cheers
Davyo
Look into connections between Blackwater and CACI and the leaders and members of the cult-house. Birds orf a feather.
John Enswine