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Friday, June 19, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Megyn Kelly
Editor’s note: Doug Hampton, the husband of Cynthia Hampton, who had an affair with Sen. John Ensign, explains in a letter to a Fox News Channel anchorwoman, Megyn Kelly, how the senator’s affair with his wife has“completely ruined” the couple’s lives.
The letter is dated June 11, 2009. Its text follows in full and is published without any corrections to its grammar or spelling.
++++++
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Fox News- Corporate Office
1211 Avenue of the America’s (sic)
New York, New York 10036
Megyn Kelly,
More than any time in my life I understand why people take matters into their own hands. I am disheartened! I have sought wise counsel, tried to do the right thing and continue to run into road blocks (sic) in dealing with a very terrible circumstance and injustice that lives in my life. I am hoping you and Fox News can help.
My name is Doug Hampton. I am a former employee of US (sic) Senator John Ensign. I worked for Senator Ensign in his official government office on Capitol Hill from November 2006 to April 2008. My responsibilities were the oversight of his personnel in Washington as well as the state of Nevada. Duties included budgets, policy and public speaking on behalf of the Senator and his initiatives.
Here is my story. In December of 2007 in the midst of some very difficult personal issues that deeply impacted my family and marriage, Senator Ensign pursued and engaged in a relationship with my wife. Our families were lifelong friends, our children attend school together to this day, and our homes are in neighborhoods across from each other. My wife was the Senator’s campaign treasurer.
There is a tremendous amount (sic) of details and critical facts associated with this story and their relationship that will not be addressed in this letter but are very important and need to be further explored if you choose to meet with me. The purpose of this letter is to establish the framework for discussion and provide enough information to warrant a meeting with you and Fox News. This is the only letter of its kind and no other news stations have been contacted with this information. I have great respect and affection for Fox News and many of your collages (sic). I’m sending this to you because you have a legal back ground (sic) and this story has several legal elements.
The unethical behavior and immoral choice of Senator Ensign has been confronted by me and others on a number of occasions over this past year. In fact one of the confrontations took place in February 2008 at his home in Washington DC (sic) with a group of his peers. One of the attendee’s (sic) was Senator Tom Coburn from Oklahoma as well as several other men who are close to the Senator. Senator Ensign’s conduct and relentless pursuit of my wife led to our dismissal in April of 2008. I would like to say he stopped his heinous conduct and pursuit upon our leaving, but that was not the case and his actions did not subside until August of 2008.
The actions of Senator Ensign have ruined our lives and careers and left my family in shambles. We have lost significant income, suffered indescribable pain and emotional suffering. We find ourselves today with an overwhelming loss of relationships, career opportunities and hope for recovery. Our pursuit of justice continues to place me and my family in harm’s way as we fear for our well being (sic).
Today, Senator Ensign’s responsibility and stature have increased within the US (sic) Senate. His is currently the head of “Policy” for the Republican Party, the number four position within the Parties (sic) leadership team. We on the other hand are completely ruined and left to deal with the aftermath of very evil and completely unjustifiable acts by one of our countries (sic) top leaders.
It appears there may be nothing the law can do to correct and bring justice and restitution to (sic) this terrible wrong that has been done to us. I have sought a number of lawyers who are having difficulty finding charges that may hold up in court. There are either technicalities that exist due to the time period in which I have sought help, or other nuances that quite frankly make no sense to me given the egregious acts and blatant abuse of power by Senator Ensign. From my perspective this whole nightmare is terribly wrong and completely unacceptable and should not be tolerated.
I clearly understand this story is difficult to believe for anyone reading (sic) for the first time. I too would have difficulty believing it, if someone brought me this story. However I assure you it is true and there are facts, a paper trail, phone records and personal witnesses to testify to its truth. It is my belief we are dealing with a very powerful person and an institution in the US (sic) Senate that only the media can pierce to expose the wrong and bring light and focus to what needs to be done? (sic)
Please help me! This should not be how the leadership of our country should be allowed to behave. I need justice, help and restitution for what Senator Ensign has done to me and my family. Regardless of technicalities, regardless of position, regardless of power this cannot and should not be tolerated in our country from our trusted leaders. Will you help? Will you consider a meeting with me to further discuss this story and what can be done to bring justice and correction to this situation?
I love this country and considered it a great privilege to work in the US (sic) Senate. I am bringing this to you and Fox News to address this professionally and correctly. I could have sought the most liberal, Republican hating media to expose this story, but there are people’s lives at stake and justice is about proper process as well as outcome. Senator Ensign has no business serving in the US (sic) Senate anymore! I will send you and (sic) email as well as leave you and your staff messages in an attempt to meet you and your team as soon as possible. I live and work in Nevada but can be in New York within hours, I look forward to your help.
Sincerely,
Doug Hampton
This is in reaction to Doug Hampton's letter to
Fox News representative Megyn Kelly. First let me say that nothing that Senator Ensign can do will justify the fact that he erred in his actions by getting into an affair with the Hampton woman. That being said, Doug Hamton's letter to Fox News is a whining attempt to obtain revenge against Ensign. Nowhere does Hampton recognize that his wife was accountable for her behavior as well. The Hamptons would be better advised to get counseling for their personal problem, and move on. By Mr. Hampton's own account there is little ,if any, legal recourse available to he and his wife. Therefore, their time would be more productively spent getting on with their lives, and the healing that is needed.
By a twist of irony, the Senator would be an ideal candidate as a Fox News commentator if he ever decides that the damage to his senate career is beyond saving after all the dust settles.
The second part of your comment would be correct Houston. Senator Ensign has proved he is ready for Fox Noise and entertainment. Lying, misrepresenting and hypocrisy, all the qualifications of Dubya's people that have already moved to Faux News.
WOW. Doug Hampton's letter is personal and political dynamite! I have never neither seen nor heard of a spouse whose better-half had an affair with a prominent public figure issue such a poignant and powerful letter. Obviously, the man has been severely damaged emotionally and professionally by the callous and careless actions of the Nevada senator.
Truly, a tragic story for the Hamptons and the family of John Ensign.
RSN - You've been watching too much MSNBC, probably psycho Keith Ulbermann or mad-dog Rachel Maddow. Or, do you live on the left-wing SMEAR sites like Media Matters and the Daily Kos?
Wow! For once I agree with Houstonjac.
The Senator was very wrong. The man's wife was very wrong. The man just wants money or wants to inflict pain on the Senator and his family as the man cannot find work equal to what the Senator had provided him. Tragic tale for all. Same sin, same result (families ruined), and seems to be repeated by people in power over and over.
Ensign lied about the extortion, compounding his moral failure as a husband and a political leader. I urge my fellow Nevadans to initiate a recall petition. Ensign is an evil and unrepentant sinner who has no business being rewarded by the voters of this state.
This was a long way to go to get Megyn Kelly's attention but wasn't it worth it? Where did Fox find her? Couldn't you forgive you're wife after an interview with Megyn? I'd accidently leave Harry Reid's number on my wife's night stand next, if I were Mr. Hampton.
SO, will all now call the Hamptons liars too? Because if you're keeping score,the Hamptons lied through their attorney when they said they had done 'everything in their power' to keep this 'private'....and didn't know "why" he was coming out now. See,they 'outed' themselves to make sure they were in the spotlight when Sen Ensign didn't name them, then it comes out that Mr Hampton had,in fact, written a letter to Fox News wanting serious revenge against Ensign. Is that everything in your power to keep it private? By throwing your wife under the bus almost a year after it ended?...Who is to say that the blackmail wasn't 'pay me or I'll send this letter to Fox'....? Logic people, logic....
"Yes the senator did wrong, but I didn't see so many people yelling about Kennedys, who are famous for their affairs. Look at Bill Clinton, he did it in the oval office, yet he did not have to resign his job."
No one yelling about Kennedys? What rock have you been hiding under for the past 40 years?
And as to Bill Clinton, IT WAS ENSIGN WHO SAID THAT HIS BETRAYAL OF HIS MARRIAGE VOWS DISQUALIFIED HIM FROM OFFICE. It is precisely that postion that marks Ensign as a bold-faced cheating hypocrite.
Why did Ensign have someone with such pitiful English in such a prominent person on his staff?
Nothing new here. This is just one of many politicians that think they are above the moral code. It matters not if the individual is a democrat or a republican. The temptations of the flesh are huge and the weak succumb. History would be a lot different if attention were brought to these matters quickly and expediciously. Since time began sex has been the downfall of many and will continue to be. The selling of sex by the entertainment industry just pours more fuel on the fire and those supporting it aid and abet the situation. Marriage is a covenant with the creator those who ignore it in most cases pay the price. The ones that don't will answer later and the punishment will follow. To them that have ears let them hear and to those that have eyes let them see. To the defenders of such acts your time will come.
JayeTTWhy did Ensign have someone with such pitiful English in such a prominent person on his staff?"
Good point!
"Houstonjac" beat me to it. But let me also say that Doug Hampton's lack of English skills is shocking. He evidently doesn't know the difference between possessive and plural ("one of the attendee's was..." and "position within the Parties leadership team."). And he doesn't know how to use a spell checker.
This is the guy that served as Chief of Staff to a Senator, making $144,000 a year?
Ensign, another "Holier than Thou" Republican hypocrite (it's not just a word, it's a LIFESTYLE) who like to place his unit in other men's wives.
But he has great senatorial looking hair, a cool sounding last name and always votes "NO" so Republicans will keep him.
Republicans saw Ensign as their rising star. How far must one look to find some rising ethical and moral attributes able to withstand the strains inherent in public/political exposure? But there are no saints among us.
Something very sad happens when someone enters public life to any significant degree. Motivations, originally altruistic, become self-serving and moral parameters dissolve.
Even someone with a very strong sense of those values apparently succumbs to their own PR hand-outs, as the rules don't apply to them anymore.
Scandal disclosure always lets the rest of 'us' somehow feel better about ourselves simply because it wasn't 'us' who got caught.
Why is it that the Republicans always whine and worry about their "income potential" when caught in their hypocrisy?
Based on Hampton's admiration for Fox, his obvious unemployment and income loss, and is not accepting any responsibility for his straying wife and boss, proves to me that he and the rest of the characters involved are typical Republican LOSERS.
Remember when O'Reilly admitted to having an affair and then reported he would NOT talk about it as though he was the God of Media and could END the discussion? Fat-pig Limbaugh and his drug use, cheney, rove, and bush thievery and lies, congressmen and little boys....
Yep, sex, drugs, rock n roll -- these republicans are the wannabes of the 60s who were on the fringe of society at the time, (nerdy, ugly, and not cool and away at their Republican rich family prep schools), and now are acting out in their old pompous age while trying to keep up the appearances of "moral" upstanding leaders.
Hampton wants money. Ensign wanted a Piece of A$$, and Mrs. Hampton wanted some attention. And Republicans keep repeating the mantra "I am not a crook!" LOL
It's the same playground it's always been. Only the names have changed.
What a poorly written letter! Glad I am not a Republican.
davemartin7777 - You hit it right on the head. Palin and Newtie must be breathing a sigh of relief.
The Big haired Okie is as much of a hypocrite as Ensign.
Foxhole: Fairly unbalanced for the truly unbalanced Dittoheads.
Houstonjac says "...a whining attempt to obtain revenge against Ensign." Better than picking up a gun and shooting them both. If their church lived up to the laws they want to inflict on others, they would stoned her for him.
Wow, Don Surber completely deleted his "Fox News made Ensign come clean" blog post.
The title is still up on "Memorandum"
I've never seen any blogger do this.
Google, "Fox News made Ensign come clean"
That how Republicans and Fox News deal with embarrassments to Republicans" OMISSION.
Houstonjac, fine job I agree with you 100%, we all know it take two to tango, if not it must be rape. And my thought on SENATOR BOXER what an arrogant lady (mam)she must be!
It's no wonder Fox News didn't rush to break the story. What a poorly written letter. And this guy made over $160K while working for Senator Ensign? And held one of the top positions in his office? Please! My writing skills are better than his. I couldn't even read the entire letter because his spelling errors drove me nuts. I wonder if he's a product of the Clark County School District???
He should divorce the women and sue for spousal support, seems like she certainly has the means to make money, after all it is legel in some parts of neveda.
This was not just an affair this was an attempt to secure financal future for the hamptons.
Seems like we do sell our time or talents.
NLV-
Yep, the GOP's got some real "talent". And they think we "spend too much" on public education? Yikes.
News1950-
Of course, this is all just "fabricated by the lib'rul media"! Never mind that Ensign himself demanded that President Clinton resign over Monica Lewinsky and Larry Craig resign over whatever happened in that Minneapolis Airport restroom. So what's good for the goose isn't good for the gander?
transplanted-
How very true. When will the GOP learn?
Sweet Lord, the man was a top aide to a United States Senator and doesn't even understand basic punctuation.
What's wrong with the Senator getting a fine piece of ass? After all he Nevada where prostitution is legal. As for the husband, go to school and learn how to write, stop complaining, and go nail the Senator's wife. Maybe both couples can do a little swinging.
NOTE TO STUDENTS: Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Ensign is a clear demonstration of this classic adage.
Does anyone else think that FOX would have sat on this story had it been a Democrat senator? Yeah right.
Ensign supporters sound like five year old's, "but mommy, Clinton did it too."
Clinton supporters sound like five year old's, "but mommy, why did they mad at our Clinton hero. Woooo that Engisn is really really bad...he should resign."
I have read the letter to the editor and I dont understand the exitement. I think this man has forgotten that it takes "TWO" to Tango. At what moment did the good wife and mother forget that she was married. It seems that the good man is more concerned about the job he lost. ....get over it, your wife messed up and now you make the whole thing look like as this is all the Senators fault, if you would have been the top husband she would not considered the "affair" in the first place. ......
I have to say I agree with just about everyone on this issue. I am more than disappointed with the Senator. Clearly Mr. Hampton is feeling some desperation in his current circumstances. He is trying some good old fashioned blackmail. When are Nevada voters going to clean house? We are just a big joke to the rest of the country.
Is U. S. Senator, JOHN ENSIGN, (R-NV) a SEXUAL PREDATOR?
That's the biggest question of all!
So, "vegasgurl4fun2" doesn't care if women are sexually harrassed or preyed upon by sexual predators? Gee, I'd think everywoman would be very, concerned about such crimes? Oh, wait, maybe "vegasgurl4fun2" really isn't a female and just posing to help to help the Ensign camp keep up the spin and is just trying to kill the story and commentary?
Gee, this is Vegas, what are the odds?
The most disturbing question is - "Is U. S. Senator, John Ensign, (R-NV) a SEXUAL PREDATOR?"
The Battle Born PAC website, shows a towering John Ensign and features 2 "candidates" Coborn (Ensign's roomate) and witness to confrontation with Doug Hampton, and Nevada Rep. Heller. I wonder how long these people will want to be identified with Ensign?
Mr. Hampton makes it sound as if Ensign forced Mrs. Hampton to carry on an affair for 9 months at gunpoint. Couldn't she have said "NO" to Ensign's advances and gone through the proper channels if he was really victimizing and harassing her?
Sounds like Mrs. H was a willing participant and Mr. H is in denial over his wife's involvement in the affair.
I did have a chuckle over Mr. H's respect and affection for Fox News and its "collages".
Hey, "LT2LV" when the perpetrator is THE BOSS, he doesn't need to do the crime "at gunpoint" dude! By the nature of the superior/subordinate relationship Ensign admits he committed SEXUAL HARRASSMENT - that is a fact!
Given the facts that Ensign continued to commit the crime of sexual harrassment over several months, this fact raises the question:
"Is U. S. Senator, JOHN ENSIGN, (REPUBLICAN-NV) also a STALKER and a SEXUAL PREDATOR?"
Let me get this straight...Cindy Hampton engages in an affair on her own free will and it is Ensign who is responsible for her failed marriage. No offense, but Doug Hampton is embarrassed and trying to blame someone other than himself for his failed marriage. He is trying to take back control and this is his only way of doing it.
I have not lost any respect for Ensign as this is life and I don't care what your job is...affairs are nothing new. As for Doug...sounds like he was looking for blackmail money and didn't get it and now is crying fowl.
She probably wanted to end the relationship when her husband found out and sometimes it is hard for the other person to let go in the affair, but to call it sexual harrassment is obsurd.
Nice try Doug, but even to those of us in AZ, you sound like a fool.