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

[dzent1]

Sometimes I think marriage is such a big deal to these guys because their wives know where all the bodies are buried.

That's the real problem with republican infidelity. They''re afraid their wives will rat them out about the REALLY bad stuff.

[MizLiz]

Just once I want to see a shame-faced politician confessing his sexual sins all by himself.

Because his wife is home packing up all his stuff and consulting an attorney.

[fla kracker]

There has been no indication of why the senator decided to announce his infidelity when he did.

Let me guess his butt got caught

[td]

Some reports included info that his other employee, the husband of the woman committed adultery w/, was blackmailing Ensign. It is a matter of just how many criminal activities Ensign was involved in.

[TFlint]

Someone said "either admit to this or we'll tell the rest of the story."

[mercian35]

If he hopes to break his marriage vows and get away with it, then he's in the wrong party. If he were a Democrat, and extra-marital affair would be a resume enhancement and his career prospects would be assured.

[desertdweller]

We Dems do get more "action."

[mamala4]

At least the Dems don't use "Family Values" as their motto.

[bebecca]

right, let's examine David Vitter (still in Congress) v. John Edwards (slunk off into oblivion).

[SatinPanties]

But how many times have we Dems excoriated and pontificated about "Family Values" and the whole Holier than thou B.S.?

[Apollonavigator]

Seldom, since you don't have any. Boink...boink

[the964kid]

Hey Mercian35: Republicans have made themselves out to be the party of 'family values.' Many of these holier-than-thou GOP members were involved in impeaching Clinton because of his affair (a move that froze the government for 2 years and costs the tax payers tens of millions). It's only an issue because people like Ensign try to tell others how to live, who they can marry, how they plan their families, attack others for infidelity. Dem politicians who cheat normally have not been people who tried to tell others how to live. Sorry, but your attempt to deflect reality isn't going to work.

[chandu11]

I love it when hypocrites have to admit that they're hypocrites!

[donia1970]

To resign is the only decent thing to do considering how he condemned others in his shoes - and called for their resignations.

[LMPE]

Nevada had a chance to vote out this guy in 2006 and go for Jimmy Carter's son, and they reelected Ensign. I mean really...

[desertdweller]

Let's not forget that he had the support of Nevada's "marriage-loving" Mormons. Wonder if they will vote for him next time?

[ppace60657]

When will the mainstream media demand he apologize to President Clinton?

[albanianmomforobama]

Good, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d.!

[Just2stressed]

What about the Senate seat?

I am CURIOUS to know what prompted him to disclose that he's an adulterer.

[CitizenJ]

Extortion.

[DeBartolo]

She and her husband were blackmailing him

[3reddogs]

The woman he had the affair with was apparently trying to extort money from him.

[OMG1109]

He was prompted by his high Christian values...lol

[bebecca]

He found jesus?

[DeBartolo]

he's baptist..."once saved, always saved"

[helonias]

And then what?

[Aabby]

WHY? not that I can stand this man but what does the one thing have to do with the other?

[HeWhoReads]

Um close to nothing. Perhaps if you stretch the imagination, it relates to his intelligence and thought process in general. lol, I think the real reason he is stepping down is because he is receiving pressure from his own party. They don't want to add "adulterers" to their public image.

[gorideabike]

Me too. Who cares who he bangs?

[TFlint]

The party of family values who claim that Clinton is the only one who ever had affair.

[MaryscottOConnor]

H-y-p-o-c-r-i-s-y