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

[lovethesinner]

HEADS-UP!

The Hamptons, (the couple Ensign... screwed) is finally speaking out. Through their lawyer:

(from TPM)
Doug and Cindy Hampton can confirm that they are the individuals referenced by Sen. Ensign during his press conference.

It is unfortunate the senator chose to air this very personal matter, especially after the Hamptons did everything possible to keep this matter private.

It is equally unfortunate that he did so without concern for the effect such an announcement would have on the Hampton family.

In time the Hamptons will be ready and willing to tell their side of the story. Until then, please respect their privacy.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2009/06/statement_for_couple_regarding_ensign_affair.php?ref=fpblg

[booboo111]

Like they all respected Clinton's privacy?

[JulieSA]

Eh, they all sound like sc u mbags, this couple and Ensign. To heck with all of them.

[greymom]

If indeed they blackmailed him, this is incredible. We did everything we could, we didn't blackmail him for more than we thought he could afford, yada yada yada. This is delicious.

[StevieRae]

Shakespeare forewarned us about "the 'man' doth protest too much."

Another example of absolute hypocrisy and HUBRIS so prevalent in the Republican party that has claimed responsibility for American's moral leadership as one of its guiding principles. Ha!

Ensign should resign from his leadership position. The question is whether voters in NV will punch his ticket by not reelecting him???

[One more Thing]

I think that might depend on how business is in Las Vegas and Reno at the time of the next election.

[MikeDu]

I'm trying to recall. WHY did Newt Gingrich mysteriously give up power then quit in 1998? I believe he was poking one of his staff at the time, too. Wasn't he?

[One more Thing]

Wasn't she single and of age?

[gladys46]

Lest we forget ! Oh why not ... repubs will justify any of their own with the use of past Dem infractions !!!


http://www.republicanoffenders.com/index.html

[Jamal5]

Lest we forget it was nancy who said we need to get rid of the corruption and it just changed parties.
http://www.democratsexoffenders.com/

[gladys46]

Was that Nancy Drew ?

[lazercat2008]

But what about Edwards? Whaaaaa.

[LeeCalif]

Speaking of the GOP, I just saw that movie, Outrage.

About GAY REPUBLICANS who are still lying. It was TERRIFIC !!!!

I never knew about Mayor Ed Koch. I was surprised !!

Charlie Crist, well, we all know about him, now and how he hurriedly got married so he could be McCain's running mate and then ..... Surprise !! It's Alaska calling... eh eh eh eh eh.
Now he has to fake this marriage for 4 more years. It won't last. She won't put up with it.

What was also interesting and DISTURBING is all the gay staffers who help these evil republicans complete this horrible anti-gay legislation. Come on, Staffers, start loving yourselves for a change !!

[timetorevolt]

I put a big ? mark next to Sen. Lindsey Grahmm...H­e looks like he has a lot of sugar in his tank..even more than Larrry Craig...

[Ponderus]

"Now he has to fake this marriage for 4 more years. It won't last. She won't put up with it."

She's being PAID to put up with it.

[Icantbelieveher]

It appears that the "God" is working against them!

They might want to read the real B ible! They would know that if nothing in your life is going right, you're probably not living your life right!

They might want to stop worshiping at the altar of money and power!

[Pupadup4oBama]

well said!

[One more Thing]

They need Michelle Bachmann's advice and counselling.

[lazercat2008]

I'm sure she will know how Acorn forced him to have an affair.

[chevyval]

Again, who cares?

[MadJeffersonian]

So long, hypocrite.

[One more Thing]

Oh they will be back. You betcha. Absolutely not necessarily.

[Arvid0823]

Ensign called upon Larry Craig to resign after Craigs restroom infidelity was made public.

Ensign needs to explain why his infidelity differs from Craigs infidelity, or else resign.

[kskids9]

OK - I guess if you want to know the difference all you have to do is read the news!!!!! Larry Craig was ARRESTED for LEWDNESS in a public restroom. Having an affair with a woman, although still not the best decision, while you are separated from your wife is a LOT different and not a CRIME...

[gladys46]

Having an affair with a MARRIED staff member ! You need all the evidence if you expect to prove a point !!!

[Icantbelieveher]

This would never have happened if those states hadn't let the gays to marry! See -- they are already destroying marriage between a man and a woman!

[One more Thing]

Hurry. Get this revelation over to Hannity at Faust News.

[TakeSake]

So if he's an Ensign... does that mean she's a Yeoman?

[tbone99]

wow the family values candidate has managed to ruin TWO marriages,

It must be the gay agenda

[One more Thing]

Maybe they could decide to become ho.mose.xu­als who can't marry in NV. At least they wouldn't be messing with the sanctity of marriage.

[lazercat2008]

And then the GOP dropped two more percentage points in the trust column.

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

Ensign, one less Republican vote.

Blackmail? How else would they avoid foreclosure. This home will be the next on the foreclosure list now that Ensign's little secret is out. How will he continue to fund the Hamptons? This is one for the IRS and the DOJ. The web is going to get even more tangled before all of this is over. Mr. Hampton may have over stepped, out of his desperation for money. I bet he now wish he would have kept quiet, he might just have been better off.


This story has longggggggggg legs. The Hamptons in no way could afford a $1.2 million dollar mortgage. Where did they get that kind of money. Their salaries were not enough to pay the maintenance on such a home, let alone the mortgage. This story is far from over. Follow the money. Watch one more Republican party member of "No" self-distruct and he won't be the last. What goes around comes around. This will be a saga worth watching.

[gladys46]

I'm thinking that Ensign could no longer afford the payments ! So, Clinton lied under oath to protect his family ... Ensign was totally unsympathic ... yet his decision was to pay the blackmailer(s) !??

[Icantbelieveher]

The only reason we heard about it at all was because he was being blackmailed. If he could have kept it secret, he would have. Lack of integrity!

[mfcesq]

I don't understand why it's necessary for people to vacate their leadership positions because they have affairs. am i just insensitive to this kind of thing? i guess the whole "trust" thing can permeate from the personal into the professional but i just don't understand why it's that big of an issue..it happened a long time ago apparently.

ps-i lovehow THIS guy is SO opposed to same sex marriage. obviously his "union of a man and a woman" was SO sacred.

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

It is a big issure when money has exchanged hands. Follow the money, it will lead to the crime.

[Icantbelieveher]

The big deal is that he called for Clinton's resignation for the same thing -- and said he's lost all credibility! It's not so much the affair that's the story, it's the hypocrisy!

[lmvd3]

By the self-professed party of high morality. The height of hypocrisy--over and over by these dysfunctional people. Dysfunction junction.

[kskids9]

No - - Read transcripts of his speeches - - He asked for Clinton to resign because he lied under oath... once again a CRIME!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!

[antaeus]

"Traditional Marriage":

One man
One woman at a time