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By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.
Sun Coverage
If Sen. John Ensign began last week with a declaration of his 2012 candidacy that earned him more raised eyebrows than ravenous applause, he got a moment at the end to shake his fist at his naysayers.
On Friday, the Federal Election Commission dismissed a complaint brought by watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington over the $96,000 Ensign’s parents allegedly paid to the senator’s former mistress and her family for their silence.
The group said the payment given to and equally divided among Cynthia Hampton; her husband Doug Hampton, a former aide to Ensign; and their two sons was an illegal political donation to Ensign. But the FEC interpreted the payments as a gift made to longtime family friends.
“The decision made by the Federal Election Commission to close this matter in its entirety gets us one step closer to the truth, which is one step closer to clearing ... Ensign’s name and restoring his reputation,” Chris Gober, one of Ensign’s lawyers, said in a statement released Friday. “We feel confident that the Senate Ethics Committee and Justice Department will follow the FEC’s lead and put this matter to rest, and it is our hope that they will do so expeditiously.”
Of course, all the other shoes that might fall in Ensign’s current predicament are a lot bigger than the one that didn’t fall last week.
The dismissed FEC complaint exists separately from the investigations into possible criminal behavior being conducted by the Justice Department and the Senate Ethics Committee, which could result in indictment.
It’s rare for the Senate Ethics Committee to pursue an investigation in parallel with the Justice Department; the committee usually waits for Justice to complete its work before taking further steps. Such was the case with the 2008 investigation of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, who was indicted and found guilty of failing to report before the ruling was overturned on the grounds of prosecutorial misconduct.
That legacy is reason enough for investigators to be careful with potential charges that could be more serious.
Depending on what investigators find, Ensign could be charged with anything from conspiring to break lobbying laws to “honest services” fraud — if prosecutors believe Ensign’s family paid off the Hamptons to keep quiet. But so far, there’s been no word on if or when such charges might come down.
In the meantime, Congress has been keeping itself rather busy cleaning house in other crises of conduct.
While the GOP reveled in the arrival of its new bumper crop of House freshmen-to-be last week, Democrats were leading a vote to censure one of their own, New York City’s longtime Rep. Charlie Rangel, for improper reporting of his finances and use of his clout as a congressman for fundraising purposes.
But one other Democrat scheduled for a reprimand appears to have received at least a temporary reprieve: The House Ethics Committee postponed indefinitely its scheduled hearing for Rep. Maxine Waters of California, charged with using her position to help a bank in which her husband invested.
As senators wait for news about pending ethics reviews, it’s not just Ensign’s future that’s hanging in the balance.
Since the news of Ensign’s affair broke, his seat has practically begged for a challenger — and several names have been tossed about, both for the primary and the general election. Two of the most prominent names belong to members of the Nevada delegation: Shelley Berkley, Nevada’s senior representative in the House, and Dean Heller, a member of next Congress’ majority.
If Ensign doesn’t get charged with wrongdoing for the financial transactions that accompanied his affair, he wouldn’t be the first unfaithful husband to retain his seat. Just look at David Vitter of Louisiana — he was implicated in a call-girl ring and still managed to beat his Democratic opponent by almost 20 points this month.
Still, Ensign lacks two things that would be necessary to wage a convincing fight. One is a war chest. The other is a party to back him up.
Nevada’s GOP is in acute rebuilding mode after an ugly primary and 2010 midterm season in which several Republican leaders split from their base to back Democrat Sen. Harry Reid.
Influential GOP members say Ensign has never taken the time to build up the base, or fortify the favor-based friendships every politician needs to call in when he’s accused of sleeping with his staffer’s wife and covering it up with campaign funds.
And as the recent election has shown, tough fights come with a price. Reid spent about $25 million and Sharron Angle spent more than $30 million during the 2010 Senate campaign.
Ensign’s third-quarter campaign finance report indicates he has about $280,000 in the bank.
Start hanging a Teabag from your head and go kiss Sarah Palin s ring Senator Ensign?
John Ensign could become a ten bagger overnight.
He better get a sombrero and start chillin with the vatos . Ask Harry if the Hispanic vote made any difference .............
Ensign is the disgusting little rich kid who just never grew up and his supporters are in denial and stupid. Of course Angle may actually be worse.
The FEC has rarely attempted to punish anybody for anything. Their conclusion has no relation to reality. That doesn't mean Senator Ensign was guilty, it just means the opinion of the FEC is worthless.
run johnny run!!!
we want to explore your relationship with the hamptons IN DETAIL...
think dougie will cooperate...
hee hee hee...
think we can get a member of promise keepers to talk...
hee hee hee...
can't wait to explore who actually contributes to your campaign...
IN DETAIL...
hee hee hee...
can't you just see the tv ads now...
hee hee hee...
hoo hoo hoo...
haa haa haa...
run johnny run!!!
If he runs for re-election he will be a shoe in because the majority of people in your state are as dumb as rocks.
I doubt the DOJ will do anything. They'll drag their feet long enough for the electorate to do the dirty work. Politically, this guy is toast.
Nevada needs a Senator that works for Nevadans.
John Ensign's trust account is empty and broken.
Time for a new Senator to represent the great state of Nevada, one that knows how to be faithful and honest.
Where is Mrs. Ensign? Will she campaign for John or will Mrs. Hampton?
Mommy and Daddy Ensign will probably be the only ones contributing to his re-election campaign. Does Johnny really think that Nevadans are stupid enough to re-elect him?
When is the IRS going to start their investigation on his "structuring" of those payments? That is illegal as well.
It would help the Ensign effort if Mrs Hampton AND Mrs Ensign would campaign for their hot little man TOGETHER at rallies, church groups and schools. It would appeal to the family values crowd as well as those rolling with laughter from the absurdity of his re-election bid.
He would be a fool to run for re-election.
Oh, that's right, he IS a fool.
Are they an item? is that why John changed his position on dont ask dont tell?
Run again Ensign, just apologize for cheating on your wife and not doing your job and the sheeple will return you to your office.
LOL... Ensign has held that rules are rules and that although he felt "many hearings" on DADT should be considered & held, His belief was that every American should be able to serve this country. (And with rules being rules, they can, as long as they DADT). His vote/stance on DADT is just a trump card to use as a "bluff" to gain support from his "colleagues" who oppose self truth and value while serving in the military and support "deception" in the ranks by reaffirming DADT policy.
Ensigns getting pretty good at the song and dance, made conspiracy, aiding and abetting felons (pay bribe/blackmailers), and infidelity look like an "unethical" use of campaign funds that was eventually deemed a neighborly gesture by his parents to his mistress and her husband.
Talk about kissin' a frog and getting a prince.
"Talk about kissin' a frog and getting a prince."
Harry, is that you???
From the beginning I had to ask the question: "What about Sexual Harassment?" Remember Ensign was the EMPLOYER (and in a total power position) over his EMPLOYEE - so, why haven't this question and those charges been raised against Ensign? Following the known time-line, Ensign, once he realized the "innapropriate" (mis)behavior would be exposed, his staff framed the issue as a common "affair" - but, then, Ensign renewed pursuing his staffer (and the woman was Ensign's wife's best friend, and she is also the wife of his "best friend")! At this point, Ensign's actions raise the question of Sexaul Addiction or whether Ensign is a Sexual Predator? Yet, the media has not raised those obvious questions or concerns! We've heard from Doug Hampton (the husband of the wife in question) - I'm still waiting to here from Cynthia Hampton to clear up the reality of what actually happened - and why?
Comment removed by moderator. All caps.