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Leila Navidi / FILE
As the details about his affair with a former staffer grow more sordid and the political repercussions escalate, Sen. John Ensign and his staff refuse to answer questions.
By J. Patrick Coolican (contact) 
, Jeff German, Lisa Mascaro
Thursday, June 18, 2009 | 2 a.m.
The Hamptons
A lawyer for Cynthia and Doug, who both worked for Ensign, confirmed the affair Wednesday, calling the senator’s decision to come forward “unfortunate.”
The politics
Ensign resigned his leadership post in the GOP Wednesday, and strategists say the once-rising star now faces a “hypocrisy” problem as a staunch conservative.
Ensign Admits Affair
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U.S. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., acknowledged an extramarital affair with a campaign staff member Tuesday afternoon at the Lloyd George Federal Building in Las Vegas.
Broken Promises
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Promise Broken, seg. 2
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Promise Broken, seg. 1
Sun Archives
- Ensign resigns GOP leadership post (6-17-2009)
- Ensign fallout could weaken GOP efforts to rebuild party at state, national levels (6-17-2009)
- Ensign's mea culpa tops bad day for GOP (6-17-2009)
- Ensign acknowledges extramarital affair (6-16-2009)
Audio Clip
- Sen. John Ensign read a statement about his extramarital affair with a member of his campaign staff at a press conference on Tuesday, June 16, 2009.
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Reader poll
Sun Editorial Cartoon
Other Coverage
- Los Angeles Times: John Ensign's affair dims his ambitions
- The Associated Press: Ensign resigns from GOP leadership after affair
- The Washington Post: Ensign's Former Treasurer Acknowledges Affair With Senator
Sen. John Ensign, with his wife, Darlene, and their children, speaks to supporters during a Republican party at the Red Rock Resort on Nov. 7, 2006.
Beyond the Sun
UPDATE: Ensign’s office: Woman’s husband approached media with story
Neither the FBI nor Metro Police in Las Vegas is investigating any claim that Sen. John Ensign’s former mistress or her husband tried to blackmail the senator for hush money about the affair, spokesmen for the agencies confirmed Wednesday.
The alleged blackmail is the only explanation so far for Ensign’s decision to volunteer that he engaged in an affair more than a year ago.
Ensign reportedly told his Senate colleagues that he publicly acknowledged the affair Tuesday because the couple had tried to extort money from him.
Cynthia Hampton and her husband, Doug Hampton, worked for Ensign, and the couple were — at one time — close friends of Ensign and his wife, Darlene.
Nevada politics were thrown into tumult Tuesday with the admission by the staunch Christian conservative that he had had an affair with an employee.
Ensign, whose office is not replying to requests for interviews, has said he intends to remain in the Senate, though on Wednesday he phoned in his resignation from a top Republican leadership position.
Ensign was chairman of the Senate’s Republican Policy Committee, the No. 4 post in Senate leadership. The senator, who is 51 and has three children, was positioning himself as a new voice for the troubled party.
Word that neither the FBI nor Metro is investigating was just one in a series of developments Wednesday that raised still more questions about Ensign’s relationship with the Hamptons.
“There are a lot of legitimate questions,” said a Nevada Republican operative who was granted anonymity to speak freely.
Chief among them:
• Has Ensign contacted authorities about the alleged extortion? If not, why not?
• What other reason could Ensign have for revealing the affair?
• Were payments to the Hamptons, documented in Senate and federal election records, intended to ensure their silence about the affair?
• Was the subsequent employment of Doug Hampton at Ensign-connected political consulting firm November Inc. also intended to win his silence? Did Ensign help secure a consulting contract for Hampton from Allegiant Air, which is a significant contributor to Ensign’s campaign funds?
Ending their own silence, the Hamptons appear ready for a public fight.
Daniel Albregts, their attorney, issued a statement Wednesday: “Doug and Cindy Hampton can confirm that they are the individuals referenced by Sen. Ensign during his press conference.
“It is unfortunate the senator chose to air this very personal matter, especially after the Hamptons did everything possible to keep this matter private,” Albregts said, reading a statement to the Sun.
“It is equally unfortunate that he did so without concern for the effect such an announcement would have on the Hampton family,” the statement continued.
“In time the Hamptons will be ready and willing to tell their side of the story.”
Cynthia Hampton, who was treasurer of Ensign’s personal campaign committee and his leadership Battle Born Political Action Committee, saw her salary double during the time of the affair, according to federal election documents reviewed by the Sun.
Ensign’s office said the affair began in late 2007 and ended in August 2008.
In that time, Ensign was chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, struggling to raise money and recruit top-notch candidates for the November 2008 election. Under Ensign’s direction, Republicans lost eight seats last year, which could grow to nine if Al Franken wins the still-contested Minnesota seat.
Cynthia Hampton was paid nearly $1,400 per month for most of 2007 as treasurer of Ensign’s Battle Born PAC.
Her salary increased slightly in January 2008 but then doubled to nearly $2,800 per month in February 2008 and stayed at that higher rate through March and April, when she left the job.
She also made $500 per month in late 2007 at the Ensign for Senate campaign committee.
Hampton’s 19-year-old son, Brandon Hampton, was paid about $1,000 monthly from March to August 2008, for a total of $5,400, by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, of which Ensign was chairman.
Brandon Hampton was paid for “salary” and “research policy consulting,” according to Federal Election Commission documents.
The payments were first reported by Sun partner Politico.
Doug Hampton received $19,679 from the senator’s office for one month, April 1 to May 1, 2008 — a sum substantially higher than his normal salary, according to Senate records reviewed by the Sun.
Doug Hampton earned about $160,000 annually as a top aide, one of the highest salaries in Ensign’s office. Hampton was hired Nov. 8, 2006.
The extra pay for that one month could have come from unused vacation or sick time, and severance payments are not unusual if an employee is discharged.
The Hamptons both stopped working for the senator in May 2008.
Ensign remained away from Washington on Wednesday, as the story of his affair and his lost leadership post filled the halls on an otherwise lackluster day.
Ensign’s office was hunkered down. Most calls to the office and aides went straight to voice mail.
When in Washington, Ensign lives on Capitol Hill with other lawmakers in a shared house that has been described as associated with a Christian religious fellowship. Ensign is also a longtime member of Promise Keepers, the men’s Christian group that expresses commitment to marriage and family.
Ensign, who is not expected back in the capital until next week, must overcome a “hypocrisy” problem given his history as a social conservative, Republican operatives said this week.
Disclosure of the affair has also focused new attention on an earlier unexplained absence. In 2002, after being away for two weeks, Ensign returned to the Senate, declining at the time to address what he told the Sun was a personal matter.
This week, Republican Sen. Tom Coburn, a housemate from Oklahoma, described Ensign as having “worked hard to build his marriage back in the last six months; he’s doing what he needs to do as a man.”
When asked whether Ensign still has a future as a Republican leader, Coburn was circumspect.
“I don’t know,” he said. “He is a bright young man, and lots of people make mistakes.”
Another housemate, Republican Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, took a long pause before saying he and the others were surprised by the situation. DeMint called Ensign “a great friend,” adding, “I think he’s a great leader and obviously my hope is that he’ll continue to serve in the Senate a long time. But that’s really up to the people of Nevada.”
The Republican leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, issued a brief statement after Ensign called in to resign as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee.
McConnell said the senator had “accepted responsibility for his actions and apologized to his family and constituents. He offered, and I accepted, his resignation as chairman of the Policy Committee.”
The Associated Press and Sun reporter Mary Manning contributed to this report. Coolican and German reported from Las Vegas and Mascaro from Washington.
Politicians always "deeply regret it" when they get caught. I'm really tired of both parties "cheatin ways". Do they think we should consider this , "standard acceptable behavior? When public figures have marital affairs are they really considered private matters?
Do behaviors such a deceitfulness, lack of restraint, causing pain to family members, -do these not speak to a man's character?
While adultery is not a criminal offense, has the media now reduced it to "a private affair" and the public condones it?
agree cnev.
One gop contact of mine said "at least it was with a woman".
I wonder if this is what is running thru the rank and file gopers, that is ok as long as it was the opposite sex?
How sad for all.
The money trail is going to be his undoing. The Senator is
toast.
@ Fccfirstclass...
Saying that you "wonder if this is what is running thru the rank and file gopers, that is ok..." is such a broad characterization that it loses all credibility.
Its like saying, "I wonder if this is how all blacks think or how all whites think or how all jews think or how all Harrah's employees think?" etc. etc. etc.
Its actually a very prejudicial remark based upon your obvious bias.
I am not defending Ensign. What bothers me is the hypocrisy of it all, but then again, I was bothered by other morality issues by other politicians. I can assure you that it is an affliction that is not unique to a particular pary.
But then again, I don't like what I see on MTV or in movies coming out of Hollywood or some of the behavior of our "stars".
At this point, nothing surprises me.
I'm sure sleeping better these past couple of nights knowing all this came to light.
Overheard at a GOP disgraced leaders meeting...
"Knock Knock"
"Who's there"?
"Self Righteous Promise Keeper John Ensign caught having an afffair"
"Self Righteous Promise Keeper John Ensign caught having an affair who?"
"ummm...uhhh....duhhhhh"
"Oh, hi, didn't recognize you right away, President Bush"
...tis the comedic gift that keeps giving...
It's not the sex, it's the stupidity. Ensign has repeatedly shown signs he is just not very smart. How could he even think about running for President with this in his recent background? Surely he has heard of John Edwards. Does he not remember his own furor over Clinton's problems with the zipper? Just stupid.
There is a better than even chance his sniffing around running for President is what brought this to light. He may try to pass it off as extortion, which would be in character (or lack of it), but there is a very real chance that the Hamptons did not want President Ensign.
CactusJack is right Ensign was known for golfing and running errands for the brain trust of the far right. I still hear him ranting on and on about Bill Clinton. John Ensign the goof ball from Nevada wants be president of WHAT?
"It is equally unfortunate that he did so without concern for the effect such an announcement would have on the Hampton family," the statement continued."
This is hilarious! Now the effect on the Hampton family is all Ensign's fault, rather than the cheating wife's.
Think of how much more these ding-dong spokespersons are paid to make such idiotic, slimeball comments than we CCSD teachers are to teach young Americans how to read, write, etc. This country is becoming a parody of itself. Sad. No wonder we are in the world's doghouse.
By the way, thanks to these journalists for the facts on paid "work" and salary increases regarding Hampton family members. Good job.
Just another hypocrite. Reminds me of Newt Gingrich.
Re journalists work post by teacher: Looks like the LA Times deserves some credit. From CityLife:
You knew this was going to happen
posted by Steve Sebelius
Wednesday, Jun. 17, 2009 at 3:39 PM
The drumbeat begins: The Los Angeles Times reports that, during U.S. Sen. John Ensign's affair with former campaign aide Cynthia Hampton, her 19-year old son Brandon was paid $5,400 for "research policy consulting" by the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
The NRSC was chaired at the time by, you guessed it, Ensign.
Now far be it from us to suggest that these payments were untoward, but whatever research policy Brandon Hampton consulted on didn't really help: The GOP lost eight seats in the November 2008 elections. But you can't really blame him for those losses; the Times says the payments stopped when Ensign ended his affair with his mother in August 2008, months before the election.
As they say on TV, there's no doubt "more to come."
It's not the sex -- it's the MONEY.
A month after the affair begins, Sen. Ensign doubles Cynthia Hampton's salary.
Then he promptly gives her 19-year-old son a $1,000-a-month consulting gig on the National Republican Senatorial Committee. 19-year-olds can and do get unpaid internships. They do NOT typically get $1,000-a-month consulting gigs.
I could give two craps about John Ensign's love life. That is absolutely irrelevant to me.
But when campaign funds become involved, we're at a whole new level. That's the bright red line.
Ensign needs to step down. Now.
Another republican holier-than-thou zealot bites the dust. As the son of millionaire (or billionaire) Mike Ensign of Mandalay Bay fame, the senator is bought and paid for by the casino industry. No small wonder that his priorities aren't with us common folks. It's time to retire this perennially well tanned hack to his country club and replace him with someone who looks out for us.
This should be a lesson to all Americans STOP buying in on the BS from American politicians. However,there is no reason to beleive that anything will be learned . In America Hypocrisy is only exceeded by gullibility
The pre-emptive admittance might have saved his seat if there wasn't a money trail to go along with it. I agree with above comments that it'll be the pay-outs--not the affair itself--that cause him to resign.
Furthermore, I don't mind that much what my elected officials do in their person lives. However, I do mind if my elected officials are stupid.
And, after all the Congressional affairs that have been brought to light, Ensign is just plain stupid if he thought he could be the one to get away with it.
Don't be late for your 'Promise Keepers'
meeting Senator Ensign, you HYPOCRITE.
Your 'holier-than-thou' attitude stinks
to high heaven.
And you preach that you're a defender
of 'family values'.
I say you're bigot, and rotten to the core.
I repeat: This is about money!
Many sources are now questioning Ensign's suggestion that he was being blackmailed by the Hamptons. His staff has walked the allegation back, no authority is investigating, and the Hamptons -- who seem to be well-employed at jobs they obviously got with Ensign's help -- insist they they were cooperating in keeping quiet.
So why did Ensign suddenly feel the need to confess in a manner that even made him miss a casino-related vote for which he should have been in DC? Why did he make this admission without good legal advice?
This stinks, people. The affair, and even the hypocrisy that has Dems so upset, was as hidden as it was ever going to get. This announcement of an affair is a smokescreen to get people's attention off something else going on in Ensign's office. That's the only possible explanation for this looney behavior.
damn shame...it now appears that Johnny wont be able to use all the wondrous Presidential prose that would have been scribbled for his inaugural address by the likes of Karl "Bringing Sexy Back" Rove or Newt "I Value My Wife So Much, I Had Three of Them" Gingrich...
guess we will never hear the Good Senator utter apropos prose such as:
"Ask NOT what your country can do for you, ask what you WILL do for your Born Again Senator in exchange for a paid position and lump sum payment for you, your husband and your 19 year old son"
...but at least he will have lots of time to return to his first love..examining Rover for desert ticks.
Dont you just love happy endings...apparently the Senator does too!
If you compare pictures of his wife vs. Cynthia Hampton, you really have to question his judgement--or his eyesight! it is unavoidable--unless she has some amazing talent.
" hey honey ive got a great idea you know our relationship is dead why not make some cash while we can off this fake family values guy"
Isn't it prostitution if she (and her son) got paid?
It appears to me that Ensign did not get caught by the public. He may have been threatened, or an extortion was attempted. He told the truth and decided to take the wrath of the public, rather than keep it secret and lie about it.
As far as his political career, he should continue onward. The reason I say this is that he has a conscience about doing wrong, especially to his marriage vows. Most politicians do not have a conscience. I do not believe that this man will ever be on that side of the fence again.
Like they say sh$t happens. Look at John Kennedy and Marrilyn Monroe. Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinski. They never resigned and they continued to govern the country.
Let it go and let the man heal.
isthis4real:
"Let it go and let the man heal?"
She happens to have her salary doubled at both jobs during the last three months she worked for Ensign (while the affair is going on)? She just happens to get a promotion in one of those jobs when her predecessor resigns due to "allegations of financial impropriety"?
Her 19-year-old son just happens to get a $1000 a month "consulting gig" for the NRSC that also just happens to end at the same time as the affair, but three months before the general election?
Doesn't pass the smell test.
"When asked whether Ensign still has a future as a Republican leader, Coburn was circumspect.
"I don't know," he said. "He is a bright young man, and lots of people make mistakes.""
First of all, John Ensign is not that "young" nor is he "bright". And I agree that "lots of people make mistakes"....however, "lots of people" do not get to vote for or against measures, bills, and laws which have such a bearing on how Joe Public lives his life.
Shame on you John Ensign, you hypocritical pig. Just because your sorry-a-- wife forgives you, doesn't mean your constituents will. Keep hanging your head in shame; it's quite becoming on you.
It took the LOS ANGELES TIMES too break the story on these payments too his mistress and her 19 year old son's "consulting work", Las Vegas media is dropping the ball on this growing scandal, George Knapp where are you?!
Good point. The Enquirer has the resourses. The son served as a lookout. Hell has no fury as a women whoes house is upside down. Who originated the mortgage of the "love nest." or refinanced it? Enquiring minds want to know. I noticed the local blowhard talk stations are putting a "blackout" on the Ensign story. Don't forget, one local talk hostess, worked for the Ensign outfit with the $5400 "kiddee." I emailed Ed Schultz, hopfully he will cover this on his TV show.
We're having a conservative Christian Republican family-values party on a forthcoming weekend. We'll have whipped cream, dessert toppings, web cams, an assortment of toys, paddles, and buckets of free money. We'll keep you posted. Rev. Bookburn - Radio Volta
EN-SIGN SHOULD RE-SIGN.
Sorry guys but this is not a "stand up guy." He would have never come clean about the affair had he not been busted. I have always found Ensign to be "SLICK." He is just too "perfect."
Even funnier to me is how the righties on FOX NEWS have hardly mentioned this. Who remembers when they jumped all over John Edwards?
Ensign has always kind of reminded me of the disgraced VP on the "West Wing." His name was "John Hoynes."
Another case of IOKIMAR. Sen. David "diaper" Vitter, IOKIMAR. Newt "more wives than a muslim" Gingrich, IOKIMAR. John "cheat on my disabled wife" McCain, IOKIMAR. Larry "take it in a public restroom" Craig, IOKIMAR. And I won't even get into policy, you know, the $11 trillion in debt passed on to the next few generations by the past three republican administrations. It's okay, I'm a republican.
John Ensign:
Please resign, so the people of Nevada and the rest of the United States of America can be represented by a Senator they can trust, not a hypocritical bag of dirt.
Thank you.
Ensign's a dirtball...but what about the Hampton's lawyer? He said this in the above article...
"Daniel Albregts, their attorney, issued a statement Wednesday: "Doug and Cindy Hampton can confirm that they are the individuals referenced by Sen. Ensign during his press conference.
"It is unfortunate the senator chose to air this very personal matter, especially after the Hamptons did everything possible to keep this matter private," Albregts said, reading a statement to the Sun.
"It is equally unfortunate that he did so without concern for the effect such an announcement would have on the Hampton family," the statement continued."
...now today, the Sun has just printed a story about Hampton writing a letter to FOXnews. This lawyer should be disbarred immediately, just before he is tarred and feathered!
This is not the first affair for Ensign. This is just the tip of the iceberg of felonious practices for this man who thrives on power and control of others. Glad he is finally exposed for the fraud that he is. He's Just like Gibbons and other GOP jehovacats.
Once again, you see the clear demonstration about those who speak the loudest against something and vehemently judge others, usually are the worst of offenders.
Did Fox News tip off Mr. Ensign that the story was going to come out?
Doug Hampton sent a letter to Megyn Kelly of Fox five days before the senator broke the story.
This dog has a bone and he'll bury it anywhere.
What kind of experience does a 19 year old kid have that can be transferred to being a paid consultant? Was he hooking up with the SINator? Or was he hooking up some of his 19 year-old ladies with Senator Sin? Why did the sinator give the husband a raise? After the Mrs. had sex with the sinator, everybody got a job, a new job, their salary doubled, or got a raise that made them make more money than they ever did. Are all republicans blind and dumb?
We just don't know the complete truth. I would like to, but sadly we never will. He'll never tell the truth, we already know how honest this guy is.
We do know that the sinator lied to his wife, his friend, his family, his state, his constituents, his country, his colleagues in D.C. and who ever else he had sex with. Nobody that cheats on his wife does it only once, he only gets caught once.
I suspect he abused his power and had sex with a subordinate, she told her husband about the affair, they both quit working for him, to "get out from under" his power. He got paranoid they were going to tell so he cooked-up another lie and said they were trying to extort money from him. Eeaah... Look what they are doing to ME!
He fits the discription of the Anti-Christ doesn't he. Professing his association with God, and all the while being and doing anti-Christian things. Boy those Family Value, Bible thumping, my morality is better than your's republic-rats are all the same. They use your Faith just to get the power you give them with your lemming-like idealistic vote. VOTE FOR ME LEMMING!
Nevada and Las Vegas, better known as Sodom and Gomorrah of the USA. Didn't this guy run a casino? Gambling and Sex, is that all he thinks about? I heard he loves dogs too. I won't be letting my dogs run loose anymore.
Hey Mike, Do you really believe anything FOX says? If you do, I've got this bridge...
At least he's a good Christian and he's not gay.
No way Fox news tipped ensign off, That is absurd and a BOLD FACE LIE by you liberal jerks !!!!! Now MSNBC, I told them about how Obama was sleeping with my wife and the secret service was on me flies on.. I just wanted them to hep me expose a phony liberal politician. So I called my favorite newscaster. But I don't think they tipped off Obama... It was just a coincidence
The Republican defenses of Ensign here are laughable.
"I suspect he abused his power and had sex with a subordinate"
Quit being so hard on Clinton.
This is not just another garden-variety case of adultery folks - Ensign committed the crime of SEXUAL HARRASSMENT (by Ensign's own admission we know that is a FACT)!
Ensign also admitted that his sexual harrassment went on for several months, so that raises the question:
"Is U. S. Senator, JOHN ENSIGN, (REPUBLICAN-NV) also GUILTY of STALKING and being a SEXUAL PREDATOR?"