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

[BaBBlingFool]

I can almost hear Bill Clinton chuckling.

[Just2stressed]

MSNBC reported earlier that the ex mistress has denied the charges of 'extortion' made by the Senator, and is willing to tell her side of the story.

[JessWonderin]

better make some MORE popcorn . . . . . hahahahahahahaha

[Just2stressed]

Yes, make alot because I am sure the ex mistress and her husband will be coming out swinging.

[lazercat2008]

It's only a matter of time before the gory details begin to filter out.

[LeawoodKansas]

There are also reports that he put himself in a "time out" in the corner.

[SF13]

Good could he do that time out in Nevada and not on the public dime.

[lovethesinner]

I can see why Ensign felt "morally superior". Compared to the rest of his party, he was practically a saint:

http://911review.org/Alex/Republican_Pedophiles.html
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/14132485/detail.html

Republican U.S. Justice Department official John David R. Atchison, 53, an assistant U.S. attorney from the northern district of Florida, has been arrested on suspicion of traveling to Detroit over the weekend to have sex with a 5 year old child. An undercover officer posed as a mother offering her child to Atchison for sex, according to police. In deposition, detectives said Atchison suggested the mother tell her daughter that

"you found her a sweet boyfriend who will bring her presents."

The undercover detective expressed concern about physical injury to the 5-year-old girl as a result of the sexual activity. Detectives said Atchison responded,

" I am always gentle and loving; not to worry, no damage ever, no rough stuff ever.
I only like it soft and nice."

The undercover detective asked how Atchison can be certain of no injury. He responded,

"Just gotta go slow and very easy. I've done it plenty," according to detectives.

In the GOP (Gang Of Pedophiles) morality is a relative thing.

[tbone99]

some sinners i just cannot love

[runfastandwin]

An honorable man would resign from the Senate and go home. I guess we know what kind of man he is.

[gladys46]

Hopefully this man will go somewhere, anywhere and not resurface out of Navada some ridiculous wounded healer ... repubs are so good at that too !!!

[SF13]

Yes as he demanded of Clinton. One set of rules for him another set for everyone else.

These people make me sick.

Yes D's have the sames issues but we don't claim to be part of the Trinity.

[dwillisno1]

A word to the wise in both parties, believers and non believers alike, Jesus was right about one undeniable truth, "Judge not, that you be not Judged."

[lazercat2008]

I think he also said "So as you sow so shall you reap".

[samuelberg]

This is almost as bad as Democrat and Presidential candidate John Edwards affair with a mistress, paying her $15,000/mon in hush money and fathering a baby with her, all while his wife Elizabeth Edwards was battling an incurable form of breast cancer.

A former campaign aide, Andrew Young, has said he was the father of the child.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5441195&page=1

[lazercat2008]

But I like this one

Proverbs chapter 22

Adultery is a trap-it catches those with whom the Lord is angry.

[gladys46]

What verse !??

I rather like verse 14: "the mouth of strange women is a deep pit; he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein."

But, but Ensign is a "devout" ah, Christian ... so he said !!

[samuelberg]

This is almost as bad as Democrat and Presidential candidate John Edwards affair with a mistress, paying her $15,000/mon in hush money and fathering a baby with her, all while his wife Elizabeth Edwards was battling an incurable form of breast cancer.

A former campaign aide, Andrew Young, has said he was the father of the child.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5441195&page=1

[lazercat2008]

There are three signs of a hypocrite: when he speaks he speaks lies, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he is trusted he betrays his trust.
--Muhammad

[lazercat2008]

"Mr. President, I rise today to speak on a topic that is very important. That is the preservation of the most important structure in our society." [7/13/04]
--Forgot what he said four years ago John Ensign

"a monogomous loving married gay couple is a big scary threat "
--American Hypocrite John Ensign

"I believe that marriage should be defined as that between one man and one woman. You want to do what is ideal for children and all of the studies show that the ideal for children is to be in a household with a father and a mother." [4/19/09]
--John Ensign and every other Republican I can think of

“Marriage is an extremely important institution in this country and protecting it is, in my mind, worth the extraordinary step of amending our constitution.”--The Constitutionally challenged John Ensign

“I came to that conclusion recently, and frankly it’s because of what he put his whole Cabinet through and what he has put the country through,” “He has no credibility left.”
--The kind of hard on himself John Ensign

"There's too many people that paint with a broad brush that we're all corrupt, we're all amoral. … And having these kinds of things happen, whether it's a Republican or Democratic senator — we need people who are in office who will hold themselves to a little higher standard." [10/18/07]
--The really should throw himself out of office John Ensign

[tbone99]

nice compilation of typical Repug hypocrisy

[lazercat2008]

Yeah, some people collect butterflys. I collect Republican hypercritical quotes.

[mad1nola]

marital affair? I think they meant extra marital affair.

[DosGatos2]

He should resign from the Senate, not just his committee chairmanship! He has lost all credibility!!

[gladys46]

Being such the champion of morality, ah "Promise Keeper" and all ... he's a big joke for awhile ... he will most probably be looped daily as a Fox Noise expert real soon !!!

[GOPonEllisDee]

Worth listening to...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI0fAmF-Bw8

[ReealOne]

Ok ya'll, now I'm going to say something that's gonna send me to my doctor for some meds for sure...... but I'm starting to feel a little sorry for Republicans, as things just keep getting worse for 'em. Now, now, now, hold on. I said that I was STARTING to feel sorry for 'em..... I did say that I ACTUALLY do feel sorry for 'em. LMAO!

[lagumbo]

Ensign, the big family values guy, huh. With values like his we all would be hypocrits.

[samuelberg]

This is almost as bad as Democrat and Presidential candidate John Edwards affair with a mistress, paying her $15,000/mon in hush money and fathering a baby with her, all while his wife Elizabeth Edwards was battling an incurable form of breast cancer.

A former campaign aide, Andrew Young, has said he was the father of the child.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5441195&page=1

This is to go with his Christian family values. Another liberal hypocrite:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0920/p01s01-uspo.html

[wndrwrthg]

Well now, that was mighty white of him.

[roch20]

It is people like this who insist on denying marriage rights to gay couples! This is the same people in charge of the campaign of "fear" against the LGBT community in this country, the same people who rinsed their mouths daily with words like "marriage is a sacred institution" between a man and a woman! Here are the results for so much hypocrisy, here are the results for all the hatred, insult therefore, for all that homophobia and racism on the part of the Republican Party, and even though I recognize that Democrats are not exempt from committing such atrocities, it's at most of cases to hand Republicans, always throwing stones and hiding the hand!

[PaleoConservative]

well duh...its "the gays" that made this poor soul's marriage weaker and forced him to have this affair with them wanting marriage and such...........by the way, I'm being sarcastic

[DJJ]

Surely HuffPost doesn't mean that Ensign "carried on a MARITAL AFFAIR with a woman who was on his campaign staff". If marital affairs are now taboo we're really in trouble.
=o\

[mad1nola]

I think they meant extramarital affair.

[SF13]

Well everyone was married.. maybe that is what they meant ? He was married she was married.. their respective spouses were married lolol .