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twitterTHE SENATOR’S SCANDAL:
Ensign’s parents gave Hampton family $96,000
Ethics commission calls for probe as Coburn disputes ‘untruths’ in Hampton’s TV interview
Published Thursday, July 9, 2009 | 10:01 a.m.
Updated Thursday, July 9, 2009 | 12:42 p.m.
Related Story
Statement Tuesday on behalf of Ensign
- In April 2008, Senator John Ensign’s parents each made gifts to Doug Hampton, Cindy Hampton, and two of their children in the form of a check totaling $96,000. Each gift was limited to $12,000. The payments were made as gifts, accepted as gifts and complied with tax rules governing gifts. After the Senator told his parents about the affair, his parents decided to make the gifts out of concern for the well-being of long-time family friends during a difficult time. The gifts are consistent with a pattern of generosity by the Ensign family to the Hamptons and others. None of the gifts came from campaign or official funds nor were they related to any campaign or official duties. Senator Ensign has complied with all applicable laws and Senate ethics rules.
Sun Archives
- Ensign’s pal lacked usual qualifications for top job (7-5-2009)
- Handling the public display of contrition (6-27-2009)
- Off the cuff, Ensign guarded but genial (6-26-2009)
- Fox News had Hampton’s letter earlier than it said (6-24-2009)
- For Ensign, a new lot in Congress (6-24-2009)
Sen. Tom Coburn
WASHINGTON -- Republican Sen. John Ensign said today his parents paid the family of his mistress $96,000 in April 2008, as she and her husband were ending their employment with him.
In a statement issued this afternoon, Ensign said his parents made the gifts "out of concern of the well-being of the longtime family friends during a difficult time."
Earlier today an ethics group that has sought probes of Ensigns reported severance payment to Cynthia Hampton asked for a Department of Justice criminal investigation into the matter.
Ensign said his father, a Las Vegas casino mogul, and mother gave payments of $12,000 each to Cynthia Hampton, her husband, Doug, and two of the couple's children.
Ensign said today he has no plans to resign and intends to continue his work despite ongoing questions about his affair.
"I said before, I always planned on serving and working hard - working harder than I ever worked -- and I'm going to continue to do that," Ensign told the Sun in brief comments this afternoon in Washington.
Ensign declined to say whether his housemate, Republican Sen. Tom Coburn, suggested he pay the family restitution, as Hampton has claimed, though he said he should have heeded Coburn's advice to end the affair with Cynthia Hampton.
"His statement, as far as my recollection, is accurate," Ensign said. "If I had listened to him things would have been a lot better off."
Coburn denied assertions by Hampton that he encouraged the Nevada senator to pay the family money to help them go away.
Coburn called Hampton's claims "absolute untruths," though the senator did not dispute having intervened in February 2008 to counsel Ensign about the affair.
"I categorically deny his statement," Coburn told a small group of reporters Thursday outside the Senate chamber. Coburn also denied he was present when Ensign wrote the one-page, handwritten break-up note to the woman, Cynthia Hampton, that the Las Vegas Sun released yesterday along with columnist Jon Ralston's exclusive interview with Doug Hampton.
"I was never present when the letter was written, never made any assessment about paying anybody anything," Coburn said. "Those are untruths. Those are absolute untruths."
Coburn had released a statement yesterday saying if Ensign had followed his counsel to end the affair and repair the damage, the situation would have ended long ago.
When pressed today what exactly he counseled Ensign to do, Coburn refused to say.
"That's private communication and I'm never going to talk about that with anybody," Coburn said.
"I was doing that as a counselor, as both a physician and an ordained deacon," he said.
"I'm not going into the details of that and never will," he said. "I never will - not to a court of law, not to the Ethics Committee, not to anybody, because that is privileged communication."
Also today, a Washington ethics group today called for a Department of Justice criminal investigation into whether Ensign gave his mistress considerably more than $25,000 in severance pay that may have gone unreported.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) said it has called on Attorney General Eric Holder to order a criminal investigation after Doug Hampton disclosed the severance payment in an interview Wednesday.
“As despicable as Sen. Ensign’s conduct has been, it now appears it also may have been criminal,” said Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW. “The Department of Justice has a responsibility to ensure that all Americans – even high level political officials – are held accountable for their actions.”
The group has previously filed complaints with the Senate Ethics Committee and the Federal Elections Commission over Ensign’s affair with Cynthia Hampton. Sloan said if the payments were not disclosed as required by campaign finance law, Ensign could face felony criminal charges.
Discussion: 94 comments so far…
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The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
With today's double barreled shots at Senator Ensign, from the Sun and the RJ, I sense that greater pressure is building on Senator Ensign to resign.
No one should forget that under Article 5, Section 8 of the Nevada Constitution, if Senator Ensign resigns, Governor Gibbons has the duty and power to appoint his successor.
Sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil some moron will appoint in his place.
Just a thought.
The power of the federal government will be used to destroy anyone fighting the current administration. I think an ethics investigation should be done by the Senate. As soon as the Congress completes the investigations of Dodd, Rangle, Pelosi and the rest.
Guess LVS is running short on news.
Ensign for president.
Deacon Colburn denies everything but will not testify under oath at an ethics hearing, citing constitutional protections for communications during religious counseling, as well as the patient confidentiality privilege. Dr. patient privilege? Is he saying Sen. Ensign is sick? As Alice would say, just keeps getting curiouser and curiouser. Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter, next week in a theater near you.
Having an affair is one thing. Having an affair with an employee is an other. Having an affair with a close friend's wife is over the top. But worse is having an affair after calling for the resignation of other politicians for having affairs is pure hypocrisy. Mr. Ensign, time to do the right thing for a change. Resign.
It baffles me why people want Ensign to resign over an affair. Who cares!?! His fidelity to his wife has no bearing on his ability to legislate. I can't believe people want politicians to resign over affairs.
Now, if the severance pay is some sort of hush money, then that's different, because it's government money. That would be grounds to resign, but the affair alone isn't. I think this is being pushed forward by the Democrats to oust another opposition legislator, but whatever.
Ha. Ensign and the religous righty want to evoke preacher privlidge?!
They are going down.
Promise keepers are such frauds.
$96,000 would go far even at $2,500 a night. That was on expensive affair, but maybe now Mr. Hampton will go away as it is obvious this is all about money.
By crackedbeak - 7/9/09 at 11:14 a.m
"as well as the patient confidentiality privilege."
Maybe Veterinarian John Ensign thinks his conversations with the animals he treats are protected from an Ethic's investigation.
now that the money train stopped, the news came out!
John, C'mon dude. It's time to go.
The right says "its just an affair". He paid money to an employee after having an affair. If you whined about Clinton then he has to pay the piper. Clinton got disbarred and impeached. Ensign needs to get investigated and if a crime was committed go.
The more that I hear from Doug Hampton, the bigger doooochbag he becomes.
Now, there were checks in the amount of $96K?
Mr. Ensign - take my wife, please!
Ensign can't have it both ways. Either he paid this money as hush money (which he denies) or Hampton made this public because he decided the affair was, to him, not at its core a financial issue that could be settled with money.
Had Bill Clinton ripped anyone for adultery we would have laughed until we cried. Ensign ripped Clinton for doing what he did. Just like Oxy boy Rush Scumbaugh thinks drug users should be locked up. These are the leaders of the Republican party. LMAO.
I don't care that he had an affair. There is nothing illegal about being a classless hypocrite.
It sounds like there might be something criminal about the money changing hands. This should be investigated. If anything illegal transpired, the senator should be charged. If Mr. Hampton blackmailed the senator, he should also be charged for his crimes.
Looks like Ensign got taken by the original matchstick man. Hampton pimps out his wife and cries foul when the greenbacks stop.
When is this insanity going to stop.
At least Harry Reid just pimps out Nevada.
Coburn is claiming doctor/patient confidentiality?
He's an OB/Gyn!!
John Ensign, you are a total fraud. RESIGN.
Comment removed by staff.
four members of the hampton family. 96,000. 96000/4=24,000 each. twice the $12000 stated.
Typical republican. He went running to Mommy and Daddy to bail him out when he made a total mess of things.
So, henderson, how about all that naive nonsense about "not believing" anyone would advise Ensign to pay them? Seems Momma and Poppa Ensign did just that.
There needs to be an investigation. Now.
"Follow the money"
It's the cash aspects of this that will lead to his inevitable resignation. Still looking for takers for
Ensign '12.
The simple facts: Ensign committed adultery, and various payments were made. This is morally wrong, and possibly criminal depending on what other information comes out about the payments.
The money is gifted at $12,000.00 per person per year.
Thus, an accountant can claim a $12,000.00 gift on December 31st of '08
and a $12,000.00 gift on Jan 1st of '09 and be in compliance with gifting laws.
ksand,
I said - and pay attention:
I didn't believe anyone would suggest Ensign pay Doug Hampton millions. That would be terrible advice. Of course there needs to be an investigation. I never said otherwise ksand, keep it together man. For someone that always complains about being misquoted, or that people put words in your mouth, you have a lot of nerve.
I got deleted by the staff earlier! What I meant to say is maybe Dr. Coburn the GYN can help Hampton with his girly parts. Apparently we can't actually say the proper word here.
There is no way Ensign should continue as a member of the most elite club in the world. He has sullied the office. Our state is deeply shamed because of him. He must resign.
That old sly dog Ensign and his mommy and daddy had to consult a tax lawyer before "gifting" his mistress's family to comply with tax laws?
That sounds fishy!
edgewise,
Let me make sure I understand:
You take issue with the fact that they complied with tax laws?
I take issue with a lot of things in this situation, but I'm more concerned with non-compliance issues.
It's a given that Ensign is a hypocrite and an adulterer. It may yet be that he will be found to have committed criminal behavior, paying money to keep the story of his affair quiet. I also wonder why no one has raised the issue of sexual harassment; he had sex with a subordinate and then fired her. Sounds like it meets the definition of sex harassment and should result in an investigation by the Senate Ethics Cmtte as well as a lawsuit by Cindy Hampton. Resign, Sen. Ensign, you've lost any ethical right to represent the people of Nevada.
vegas,
Maybe there was no harrassment, maybe it was just a plain old adulterous affair between two people. I'm sure she was just as willing as Ensign. I am not so sure they were fired as much as they were reassigned in the best interest of all involved. Should they all just continued working together? AWKWARD!
This is the biggest non-story of the year and both local news rags are running it into the ground.
henderons if I wanted to give a gift to a friend, I'd give them a gift. if I wanted to hide a hush money payment, I'd structure it for tax purposes.
Do you know that a lot of people "gift" the annual maximum to their children each year? I believe it's $10,000 max per year without it having to be claimed. It would foolish to not know the tax limits before "gifting" someone.
But if you want to be double taxed on your own money go ahead.
The parents gifted the money to the Hamptons.
Perfectly legal. (The fact that it passes tax free to the Hamptons
makes it even more valuable.)
They also made sure the money was not "officially" paid out
by Senator Ensign, providing him with (dubious) cover in the
coming investigations.
is ensign the ethics committee chairman?
"Do you know that a lot of people "gift" the annual maximum to their children each year? "
Yup, that wasn't paid to their children, though, was it? It was paid to their child's mistress. You may not see anything weird about that. But then, some people still believe in Santa Claus.
This story is basically about What The Rich Do, whether they claim to be religious or not. They do what you're seeing the Ensigns do. Religion didn't prevent him from straying from his marriage vows. He's rich. He and his father can buy their way out of most of the junior Ensign's self-caused troubles. Will he continue to be able to serve the public? Not so likely.
This is toooooooo funny. He's a lying sack of crap just ALL politicians...period. face it, there is no real difference between the parties, other than who they lie, cheat and steal for.
Follow the money, and ask more questions:
1) Where are the checks?
2) Where are the deposit slips?
3) Where are the saved emails and text messages?
4) Where are the rest of the letters?
5) Where is Cindy?
6) Where is Doug living; with or without Cindy?
7) Where is Darlene; with or without John?
8) Where are the other staff members in both Senate and Campaign organizations who know even more?
9) Where are the tapes?
10) Where are John Ensign's answers to these and other questions?
The electing public wants to know.
Here's the thing edge, saying it's "fishy" that they complied with tax laws before "gifting" his mistresses family is kind of like saying saying you smell dog crap when your standing in a kennel. The cat is out of the bag duh.
I have a question for you folks who continue to support the "Good Senator", and dismiss the affair as meaningless in the grand scope of things;
What Shaquille O'Neil sized shoe needs to drop for you to realize what's up here?
John Ensign is TOAST.
He's being mocked 'round the country on blogs just like this and on editorial pages everywhere. There is NO support for him.
Even the Republican Party is disowning him.
He has been rendered moot in Washington.
He's a political Eunuch.
The butt of jokes aplenty.
He's giving Jim & Tammy Faye Baker a run for their money.
All we need are some lurid love notes to come out. Wait...did that happen already? I can't keep up!
If that is what you want representing your best interests in the senate, so be it.
Thank God for the award winning Sun reporting of this ghastly scandal. Another Pulitzer prize?
As the thinking people on this website said
"follow the money- and research the real estate."
If the Republicans were smart, Ensign would resign, and Gibbons would appoint Heck or Heller, and they would have a 75% chance of reelection. As an independent, I don't have a dog in this hunt.
I also find it highly unethical for a person that worked for one of Ensign's political efforts, now a talk radio host, does not disclose that relationship as she talks about this issue on the airwaves. (And of course she says Ensign should not resign.) Some "News Station."
Hopefully, MSNBC and the other media pick-up on this fabulous reporting by the Great Mr. Ralston and his dynamic publisher Mr. Greenspun.
(Ensign could have saved Mommy and Daddy some money by going to Nye County to do his business.)
Comment removed by staff.
Boogity boogity boogity, coo coo coo, now I know why Ensign wants me to have AK-47 rights!!
mred,
If you're talking about Heather, she has said many times on the air that she used to work for Ensign and that it breaks her heart that he did this.
Nick, words fail me, at least the ones that would stay posted here. Leave Mrs. Ensign out of this. She is a victim, period.
Then why does John Ensign blame his wife for him being a sexual predator?
Mrs. Ensign has something to hide. Is she a slut? Unfaithful. Does not have sex with him?
What are those sick freaks hiding?
The kids should be taken from that house where they are safe. Why should they pay for their cheating scum dad and and town whore mother?
so mommy and daddy paid the tax-free hush money -
how conveeeeeenient
rich republicans at play - if they aren't screwing each other, they are screwing the country
Wow, this Doug Hampton guy is a piece of work. The second I heard my buddy, Ensign, who's been screwing my wife, tell me he's in love with her I would have put my polished, shiny wingtips far up his a$$, grabbed my wife and kids and got the heck out of Dodge! Jeez, this guy didn't even man-up to Ensign in spring '08 when his wife even asked him for help. On the other hand, it takes two to tango and I at least give Ensign props for giving Cindy what she obviously wasn't getting from Doug.
How much effort has John Ensign put forth for Nevada while all this was going on? During the biggest downturn in Nevada history, Ensign spent his time cheating, bribing and lying.
Ensign is a horrible person.
"He's being mocked 'round the country on blogs just like this and on editorial pages everywhere. There is NO support for him."
There was a poll done in Nevada after the affair was in the news.
Ensign still had higher approval ratings than any other politican in the state including Reid's who has the 2nd lowest rating in the state.
Ensign is not only an embarassment to the state of NV, but a big, big cry baby. Mommy and Daddy needed to bail him out of an extramarital affair? Really?! Is he an adolescent, or an adult? I've never heard of anything so preposterous. Please, Mr. Ensign for the sake of us all, resign.
And Mr. Hampton, for the sake of us all, please shut up. Your wife is as culpable in this affair as Mr. Ensign is. If moving on with your life is as painful as it appears, I suggest you rethink staying in your marriage. Perhaps it is time for you to consider divorce. Some relationships aren't worth salvaging and nothing you've stated publicly suggests that yours is. Moreover, therapy is probably a better investment in your future than letters to Fox News and further TV appearances.
Well, Nance, I'm thinking a new poll might look different. You think?
Ensign is sinking like the Titanic.
Harry Reid will be re-elected.
Them's the facts.
"Ensign still had higher approval ratings than any other politican in the state including Reid's who has the 2nd lowest rating in the state."
http://www.pollster.com/blogs/nc_2010_se...
In May, Reid's favorability was 38%
In June, Ensign's favorability was 39%
Jim Gibbons. jfNance32's hero, was at 10%
"Ensign still had higher approval ratings than any other politican [sic] in the state including Reid's who has the 2nd lowest rating in the state."
Higher than ANY other politician in Nevada? Actually, the poll you're referring to only included favorability ratings for Ensign, Reid and Gibbons. You haven't even begun to prove that whopper of a lie.
A year ago, Shelley Berkely had a higher rating than Ensign.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/19883944.html
"Also maintaining high regard in the poll was Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., whose constituents rated her performance the highest of any member of the Nevada delegation. Berkley was rated excellent or good by 61 percent, fair or poor by 33 percent of voters in her district."
So, does anyone believe Ensign's 39% approval (before the knowledge that his mommy and daddy paid off his mistress) is higher than ANY other politician in Nevada? No.
CREW is a left wing group. CREW leaders admit that.
If the Sun has any journalism ethics (it does not) then it would put that in the story when it quotes CREW.
What does that say about Nevada politicians SgtRock? That a rotten egg is just as popular as the rest of the contents of the carton should come as no surprise. Politicians are deservedly held in low esteem since watergate.
And Nick, just because a douche like the Sen. blames his wife for his own deficiencies is nothing new. Mrs. Ensign is his wife, not a "public figure" in my mind. I'm sure she didn't have much of a choice in whether or not her husband decided to cheat on her or with who. And taking the word of this "Honorable Gentleman" about anything, let alone this fiasco, is moronic at best. We are all seemingly headed to hell in a hand-basket and our elected officials are out front leading the way. Instead of taking on the Insurance lobby or the Wall Street lobby or trying to make life just a little easier for the average joe we get this. We should install magnets in all the monuments and tombs, the founding fathers are spinning fast enough to generate power for the whole country. Happy belated 4th everybody.
96,000 dollars, OOHHH poor little rich boy, parents to the rescue.....If John Ensign has any shame he will leave public office......Folks, who are we kidding??? The apple does not fall far from the tree.
Mike Kelly's Pulitzer is on the line here
$25,000 yesterday---now $96,000.00 today---how much more tomorrow. Keep following the money:
1) Where are the checks?
2) Where are the deposit slips?
3) Where are the saved emails and text messages?
4) Where are the rest of the letters?
5) Where is Cindy?
6) Where is Doug living; with or without Cindy?
7) Where is Darlene; with or without John?
8) Where are the other staff members in both Senate and Campaign organizations who know even more?
9) Where are the tapes?
10) Where are John Ensign's answers to these and other questions?
The electing public wants to know.
henderson, you have to admit that above and beyond the pitiful Doug Hampton aspect of this, all the other evangelical Promise Keepers in this are just as preposterous! And with regard to Doug Hampton, the other players have issued their denials but virtually everything he's claimed has been proven true so far, again, pitiful as it is.
Now we learn of even more payoffs to the mistress from Senator Ensign's parents!
And Dr. Deacon Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) is now claiming that because he advised Senator Ensign (R-NV) in his capacity as a physician (a former OB/GYN!) and an ordained deacon, he has some kind of double special immunity and he ain't testifying about nuthin!
What a friggin meltdown!
But it's like they always say, it's usually not the crime but the coverup that gets you.
CynicalObserver--you sound like an abused spouse/constituent. The choice is not necessarily between Ensign and someone worse. You can surely find an honest man or woman to do the job.
It's obvious. Ensign paid hush money through his parents to keep this quiet. The democrats love it and are pumping it big time to discredit Ensign (who votes against them...)
The whole thing is stupid. We should be looking at what the person does as far as his job is concerned. Does he vote the way we want. Who cares what he does with the secretaries, so long as it doesnt cost the taxpayers hush money and he does a good job.
term25600 writes: "The whole thing is stupid. We should be looking at what the person does as far as his job is concerned. ..."
--
Aside of the distraction of running around on his wife and shtupping his employees and paying them off, Senator Ensign (R-NV) did manage to get his mistress' son a job on the National Republican Senatorial Committee and they only lost 8 Senate seats in the last election.
I'd have to say his job performance isn't great.
Mia,
Doug Hampton has no credibility. The man is in huge denial. He really sees nothing wrong with sponging off of his wife's lover. He just wants money "to be made whole again." I honestly don't believe anyone, not even Sen. Coburn, would advise John Ensign to "make this right, pay off the Hampton's home, give them millions of dollars, then relocate them to Colorado."
I truly believe that he is only saying that so he can say, "I didn't ask for the money, Senator Coburn felt like it was the right thing to do."
Doug Hampton also says that his wife's salary and raise was earned income, not due to the affair. That her severence was valid and appropriate, nothing wrong there. He also said that his son's internship was not relevant to the affair. He also said that his wife was truly devastated by 'what happened' (not what she did over & over), and that she 'can't believe this has happened'.
He just wants money and he's going to say anything to try to portray himself, and his wife as innocent parties in this. Did you see his interviews? My goodness, please grow a pair. She's probably already effing someone else!
Do you really want to believe everything Doug Hampton says?
"Doug Hampton has no credibility."
He wrote a letter to FOX news accusing Ensign of having an affair with his wife. They said he lacked credibility. He didn't. Ensign admitted it.
He said Ensign had paid them money. You said he lacked credibility. He didn't. Ensign admitted it.
I'm not seeing how Hampton's discredited. Prove your statement. Don't hide behind waffling language like "I believe he lacks credibility." Can you point me toward a few DEMONSTRABLY false statements Hampton has made?
Otherwise, you're passing judgment with no supporting FACTS.
Hampton's assertion that his wife is blameless is ridiculous for starters. Also, if we are to believe Doug Hampton, there is nothing inappropriate about his wife's salary doubling, there is nothing inappropriate about his son's employment, there was nothing inappropriate about the severance pay his wife was given, and the gift from Ensign's parents was just that... a gift. If what Doug says is true, most of the ethics violations are nonexistent.
henderson, I understand that you despise Doug Hampton but it's Senator Ensign (R-NV) who is the predator here, running around on his wife, banging his help on Capitol Hill, doling out the hush money and then running to his parents to pay off his mistress, all so he can hold on to his power.
It's hard to pinpoint who is the bigger weenie I'll grant you that, but really it's Senator Ensign (R-NV) who opened this Pandora's box by cheating on his wife and destroying the Hampton's marriage.
And WTF is up with Dr. Senator Deacon Tom Coburn (R-OK) claiming that he has some kind of double special immunity as an OB/GYN and a deacon so he will never testify about the payoffs he allegedly suggested? Did anyone even ask him to testify? Methinks he doth protest too much!
Actually Mia, I would have to strongly disagree on two points.
First, there is a huge difference between an adulterer and a predator.
Second, Senator Ensign AND Cindy Hampton both engaged in adultery together, destroying BOTH marriages.
Come on! I am not defending the Senator, but how is it that you jump to terms like predator or so quickly absolve Cindy Hampton of any guilt in damaging her own marriage?
It's quite shocking that you take those positions. He didn't cheat alone, and why should she be made a millionaire for having sex with a married man?
Why isn't anyone talking about how Cindy Hampton betrayed her longtime childhood friend by sleeping with her husband? Do we think this woman deserves millions of Darlene Ensign's money? I don't. Darlene Ensign has been a good friend to Cindy Hampton, and this is how she is repaid?
I use the word predator because Senator Ensign (R-NV) is her employer and her boss and she was on his staff. That puts him in a coercive position over her. Mrs. Hampton hasn't released any statement so it isn't a given fact that it was totally consensual and un-coerced.
And the fact that Senator Ensign (R-NV) uses religion to promote his own virtue as a "Promise Keeper" while cheating on his wife and banging his employee makes him a holier-than-thou flaming hypocrite.
"I use the word predator because Senator Ensign (R-NV) is her employer and her boss and she was on his staff. "
.........Clinton, too, by bigger factor and many times.
Funny, we did not hear the lib kool-aid harp about that back then.
Hypocrites....yes indeed they are.
Clinton??
.
..
...Did Mommy and Daddy Ensign leave the checks on the night stand..??
..
.
LOL,
Just because he was her employer doesn't make him a predator. Many people date their employers, have sex with them, some even marry them. You are taking quite a large leap.
It could be but as I said, Mrs. Hampton hasn't made any sort of statement as to whether Senator Ensign (R-NV) coerced her as her boss so it's probably a bit premature for you to declare her to be a whore just yet, henderson.
We should let all the facts continue to trickle out before passing judgement, I suppose.
I never called her a whore. I called her a dirty, dirty, cheating tramp and I stand by that statement.
You can call Ensign a predator when there's no facts to base it on, but your reluctant to go so far as to suggest that Cindy Hampton was a willing participant in an adulterous affair?
Even if her only reason for the affair was to keep her job, she would still be a dirty, dirty, cheating tramp.
Mike Ensign can give me 96 grand too.
John Ensign will never again receive my vote for any Poltical Race he runs for
henderson writes: "Even if her only reason for the affair was to keep her job, she would still be a dirty, dirty, cheating tramp."
I guess I just don't quite understand where all your hate and rage against Mrs. Hampton comes from, henderson.
It's really Senator Ensign (R-NV) who has betrayed the trust of the voters, posing as a religious family man of faith, a "Promise Keeper" who purports to be better than all of us promise breakers and sinners, and all the while he's cheating on his wife, humping his staff and getting his mommy and daddy to bribe his way out of the consequences.
That's pathetic, you've got to admit.
If Senator Ensign (R-NV) had any sense of shame or decency he'd have resigned already but instead he's desperately and shamelessly clinging to power, and dragging the party down the toilet.
He needs to go, in my opinion.
I don't know what the heck has been going on with the Republican Party for the last few years but between Sanford, Palin, Ensign, Vitter, Craig, and Foley, this party is going to hell in a bucket. They should just give up the Family Values ruse and try running as mere human beings.
At least then they can avoid being hypocrites.
I didn't say Ensign wasn't pathetic.
I merely pointed out that Cindy Hampton is not blameless, and should take some responsibility for ruining her own marriage, as well as the marriage of her best friend that has obviously been very kind to her all these years.
Instead of taking ownership of that, her husband and his girly parts are out there trying to get more money from the Ensigns. That is dispicable.
Ensign will face a full investigation. I just don't know why it's okay for Cindy Hampton to hide behind her husbands skirt.
Also, I watched face to face, and I am totally convinced that Doug Hampton is not a straight man.
Do you agree that Senator Ensign should resign?
I'm conflicted because I am really happy with his voting record and his representation. The honest answer is yes, I think he probably should. BUT I'm really hoping he doesn't.
I'm becoming more and more curious about the payments from Ensign's mom and dad.
By Ensign's own admission, his parents paid the Hamptons $96,000 in April of 2008.
But the affair, according to Ensign, didn't end until August.
Yeah, that is odd now that you mention it, ksand99.
Why would Senator Ensign's parents pay out all that money and yet Senator Ensign continues his carrying on and cheating on his wife for months and months after the payoff has been made? And that's according to Senator Ensign himself!
And who else was with Dr. Senator Deacon Tom Coburn (R-OK) when they confronted Senator Ensign and made him write that ridiculous letter to Mrs. Hampton? Are all of those "C Street" guys also OB/GYNs and deacons like Coburn?
henderson,
Senator Ensign's track record hasn't been the greatest, especially the last couple years.
As head of the Republican Senatorial Committee the party lost 8 friggin' seats! Some might call that "a heckuva good job" but the time for self delusion is over.
And frankly, a potted plant could mimic Ensign's voting record in the Senate and I'm not too happy with the way he was obstructing the Senate ethics legislation a couple years back by trying to make it more difficult to file complaints. It seemed odd at the time but now it's pretty obvious why.
Mia,
I don't expect that you and I would have the same idea of what constitutes a good voting record. You asked me a direct question, I answered it honestly. I don't really expect you to like the answer, nor do I care.
no henderson you misunderstand me. I didn't say that I don't like Senator Ensign's voting record, I'm saying that any chimp could vote the same as Ensign so it's not like we need him (and at least the chimp wouldn't have all of Ensign's baggage dragging the party down).
Besides, do you really think Governor Jim Gibbons (R) isn't going to fill Ensign's seat with another Republican if and when Ensign finally decides to man-up and step down?
To henderson & Mia Kulper:
Why don't the 2 of you just swap phone numbers and meet at a convenient bar and discuss your differences? You can invite some of the other posters like SgtRock and Ksand99 and the bunch of you can have a grand ol' gabfest! It's so sad that you have nothing better to do with your lives that carry on a debate on the internet. Please leave room for some others to post their thoughts, as well.
Just a suggestion.
He's already said that he won't resign, and since I'm really happy with his voting record, I hope he doesn't. At the end of the day, I care more about how my Senator votes than who he sleeps with.
It's very skeevy what he did, I'm not even remotely going to defend that. I would also like to state that I find the Hamptons even more skeevy. Darlene Ensign is the only person involved to retain some dignity, and she is the only victim in my book.
I didn't realize that there was a limit to the number of posters allowed. I'm pretty sure you can jump in anytime.
I agree with you regarding Darlene Ensign, henderson. She seems to be the only innocent in this mess.
Now I'm going to pause for a brief moment to allow NVCitizen a chance to post something.
Go ahead NVCitizen. What was it you wanted to post. You have the floor. Let it rip. Standing by...
So you are saying that because she worked for him and because she determined that keeping her job more important than doing the right thing that makes Mrs. Hampton a victim!? You just say NO and look for another job...will it be as easy as getting a cushy job from a family friend? NO. Will it be as easy as getting your employer's parents to pay you off? NO. But it is the right thing to do. So while we are all saying "Man up Senator Ensign" let's just throw in there "Woman up Mrs. Hampton" and stop playing the victim card...you are insulting the intelligence and integrity of women everywhere.
.
..
...As far as patient confidentiality, none of the dogs and cats involved said a thing..??
....Woof woof..
Well I guess Ensign won't be this year's surprise guest at the "Sean Insannity Freedumb Concert"
...where you check your brain at the door and pickup your copy of the "Ollie North Iran Contra-Coloring Book"
Isn't $96,000 the same amount that was found in the freezer of that Congressman from the House of Representatives recently? Hmmm...coincidence?
And by the way, has anyone ever seen Kevin Kline ("Dave") and Evan Bayh in the same place at the same time? Another coincidence? I don't think so.