Ensign Quits Senate GOP Leadership Post After Admitting Affair

WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. John Ensign of Nevada has stepped down from his leadership post one day after admitting he carried on a marital affair with a woman who was on his campaign staff.

Ensign conveyed his decision in a phone call with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who said he had accepted the resignation.

Ensign was chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, the fourth-ranking spot in the leadership.

He remained away from the Capitol during the day, and aides declined to answer additional questions about the affair.

A timeline issued Tuesday said Ensign was involved in a "consensual affair" from December, 2007 through August, 2008. There has been no indication of why the senator decided to announce his infidelity when he did.

Comments

[Clayton139]

He needs to resign !
Who can trust a lier and hypocrite !
Another Faux Noise-GOP-­Republican Blunder !

[DRicha8374]

You are so right, he need to quit!

[sak]

Ahem. When others did what he did, he demanded that they quit their jobs (Clinton and Larry Craig, for example). Thus... QUIT THE SENATE, HYPOCRITE!!!

Practice what you preach!

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

Ensign Affair is not just about Infidelity.


http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/spytalk/2009/06/ensign-affair-its-not-about-th.html

[booboo111]

And let's not forget Foley and the senate pages. He said they were "old enough" and he was treated unfairly, and Craig said his shoe bumping was just a foot spasm. Ha! A foot spasm. I ki!! me!

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

I would like to see what this beautie looks like--was she worth the professional and financial risk?

[booboo111]

You know, the desire, the passion, he couldn't help himself.

[gladys46]

Nothing much ....

http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_212238014.shtml?rssfeed

Can't believe an admin. asst. for a U.S. Sen. earns only 13K ... geez !!!

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

Maybe Mr. Hampton knew what was going on all along---he needed to keep his 1.2 million dollar home that he couldn't afford out of foreclosure.

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

I meant the IRS

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

Follow the money. I am sure the IRA has already started the process.

[lazercat2008]

The Irish Republican Army?

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

IRS

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

Watch the Republican hate machine self-distruct, more to come.

[Carol54]

another GOP hypocrite bites it. HA

[booboo111]

Another fire breathing, sanctimonious, holier than thou, republican hypocrite. These were the guys all calling for Clinton's impeachment.

[crablover]

Does anyone know whatever became of the little black book kept by the now-deceased DC Madam? I'm sure that book has plenty of well-known politicians in it.

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

Good Point

[booboo111]

I'm pretty sure Vitter was in the book. I think he's even admitted it.

[quad1200]

The only person I feel bad for is the husband of Mrs. Hampton. Ensign's wife, oh well, this probably is not the first affair her husband has engaged in, with her knowledge, but it too probably made their marriage stronger.

[One more Thing]

Do they tea bag?

[booboo111]

They had teabag swapping parties. Newt and the Mrs. attended a few.

[gladys46]

How do we know whether he (Mr. Hampton) was the blackmailer !!

[booboo111]

It's going to be a novel. Don't get ahead of yourself.

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

Sounds like Mr. Hampton was in it for the money--don't feel sorry for this guy.

[Knowledgeseeker]

more hypocrisy from a another republican­...not surprising

[Jamal5]

That would be the dumos that are hypocrits. When will the dumos call for hearings on the illegal IG firing like they did with the bushies

[lazercat2008]

Gee I like the way you think. Could you do it somewhere else?

[booboo111]

When you show us you're educated enough to spell.

[booboo111]

Jamal, is the 5 your age?

[MikeDu]

I get the feeling that we're witnessing the tip of a very big iceberg here.
What/who prompted the announcement? What/who prompted the resignation? Who knew about it? What did they do with the knowledge. There's got to be a whole frickin' Tolstoy novel being played out behind the scenes.

[One more Thing]

How many more couples were involved? How many of these couples were politicians? How many Republican? How many supported Focus on the Family?

I think there was a lot going on behind the scene which may never see the light of day.

[booboo111]

Newt was involved for sure and that Jindal guy. He's a philanderer if I ever saw one!

[Ponderus]

Drip, drip, drip...

It's just the beginning.

[lazercat2008]

Were they doing the fishbowl car key thing. Inquiring cats want to know.