Gibbons says he feels ‘very badly’ for Ensign

Associated Press

Friday, June 19, 2009 | 10:27 a.m.

Spouse in Ensign affair sought help in letter to Fox News (6-19-2009)
Ensign's office: Woman's husband approached media with story (6-18-2009)
Unanswered: Why he told (6-18-2009)
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)

Gov. Jim Gibbons says he feels "very badly" for U.S. Sen. John Ensign and his wife, Darlene, after the senator admitted having an extramarital affair with a former campaign worker.

Gibbons, who's divorcing first lady Dawn Gibbons, offered support to his fellow Republican, but said he has not talked with Ensign since the senator's Tuesday announcement of the nine-month affair with Cindy Hampton last year.

"I feel very badly for John and I feel very badly for Darlene," Gibbons told the Reno Gazette-Journal. "I think their family is suffering. This is a very personal and private matter for them.

"John handled this the way he thought was best, and I think their family has a lot of work to do to get through this. I just want to tell them that they have my support. Whatever I can do to help them is fine," the governor added.

Gibbons declined to speculate on how the affair could affect Ensign's political future. Ensign, in his second term, has said he intends to remain in the Senate.

"John will evaluate that over the next few months," Gibbons said. "He will make a determination of how that is going to affect his future and goals. Those are decisions that John and his family are going to have to make, not the governor of Nevada."

Gibbons also declined to comment on a report by the Las Vegas Sun that Ensign went public about the affair because Hampton's husband, Doug, was going to expose it to the media. Doug Hampton also is a former aide to Ensign.

"I have not heard any of those stories, nor have I seen any of the facts ... That is between the individuals involved," Gibbons said.

Ensign's admission comes on top of a string of disclosures and allegations about Gibbons. Since his election in 2006, Gibbons has been accused of sexual assault, sending love notes on a state phone and improperly firing a state employee. In recent court documents related to divorce proceedings, his wife, Dawn, accused him of a history of infidelity.

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Information from: Reno Gazette-Journal, http://www.rgj.com

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By edgewise

6/19/09 at 12:29 p.m.

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Yes, this is a very personal and private matter that John Ensign decided to hold a press conference about...? I think Gibbons just wants to stand next to Ensign so Gibbons won't look like such a disappointment. What's that old saying? "With friends like these...?"
By crackedbeak

6/19/09 at 12:48 p.m.

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"I have not heard any of those stories, nor have I seen any of the facts" ... Governor 0 stays abreast of current events. We should hold a special election and get both of these philandering slimeballs with one vote. Can you say RECALL, I knew you could.
By Mandy

6/19/09 at 6:03 p.m.

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Gibbons feels "very badly for Ensign....."

That right there says a lot about Gibbons. If he was smart (which we are questioning his intelligence lately), he would have kept quiet about this and kept his distance. He just added another nail in his "re-election coffin".

That old saying "Birds of a feather flock together" comes to mind.

"I think their family is suffering. This is a very personal and private matter for them."

Then Johnny Baby should have kept his pants on and THOUGHT before he took them off. WHY is it that men that cheat NEVER think of the consequences? They come up with a list of things WHY they did it and to them it all makes perfect sense because it is always about THEM, and never think beyond what THEY want. It effects so many people besides the people s******* each other. The hurt goes beyond the cheated on spouses. And it destroys lives. And screw the "reconcilation" BS, too. It's not going to last.
By Brian

6/19/09 at 7:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

Our Governor doesn't even know proper grammar. He should have said that he "feels bad," and not "feels badly."

Once again, he proves how dumb he is.
By hooloogoo

6/20/09 at 2:10 a.m.

Suggest removal

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...Meanwhile back in the Executive Mansion, Governor Potato Head sends Cynthia Hampton twelve text messages...
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