296:, chairwoman of the Senate Ethics Committee, told the Senate on May 12, 2011 that the committee's evidence was "substantial enough to warrant the consideration of expulsion" had Ensign not resigned in early May. The Reuters news service reported that, based on the new information contained in the Senate Ethics Investigation, the Justice Department would reopen its investigation of Ensign. In 2012 the Justice Department decided against prosecuting Ensign. According to internal documents released to CREW in 2014 under an
20:
187:, Ensign became increasingly isolated after he admitted having an affair, with fellow Republican Senators keeping a distance. Both the Hamptons had been dismissed from their positions with Ensign before the affair was revealed. They later divorced. In September 2010, the Hamptons' home was scheduled for public auction. Douglas Hampton stated that he had been unable to find work since revealing the affair.
145:
In a statement on June 16, 2009, Ensign admitted that he had the affair. That day Ensign's wife
Darlene issued a statement that said, in part, "Since we found out last year we have worked through the situation and we have come to a reconciliation." On June 17, 2009, Ensign stepped down from his post
149:
On June 19, the date that
Douglas Hampton's June 11 letter to Fox News was made public, Ensign's office issued a statement, saying "within the past month, Doug Hampton's legal counsel made exorbitant demands for cash and other financial benefits on behalf of his client." The Hamptons' attorney said
141:
reporter, in which he said, "The actions of
Senator Ensign have ruined our lives and careers and left my family in shambles", and that "I need justice, help and restitution for what Senator Ensign has done to me and my family". The network said it did not receive a mailed letter, but got the letter
172:
According to
Douglas Hampton, in a meeting with Ensign arranged by Coburn, "Senator Coburn said, 'What I would do, Doug, if I was you, is I would have them buy your home, give you a million bucks so you can start over, and that is what I am willing to help you negotiate,'" he said. "John said, 'No
114:
In April 2008, Ensign's parents gave
Cynthia Hampton and her family $ 96,000. On July 9, 2009, when the payments were reported in the news, Ensign's lawyer, Paul Coggins, issued a statement on Ensign's behalf stating, "The payments were made as gifts, accepted as gifts and complied with tax rules
190:
In March 2011, Ensign said he would not seek re-election in 2012. He said his decision not to seek re-election was not influenced by the Senate Ethics
Committee investigation. "If I was concerned about that, I would resign," he said. In April 2011, three weeks before the committee delivered its
43:
from Nevada and campaign aide
Cynthia Hampton from 2007 to 2008 and actions taken by Ensign to keep the affair secret. He was investigated for potential violations of federal rules about conflict of interest after he arranged for Doug Hampton, Cynthia's husband and formerly a top staffer in his
51:
in 2011 during a Senate Ethics
Committee investigation and returned to Las Vegas, Nevada. The committee turned its report over to the Department of Justice for investigation of potential violation of laws. The DOJ found evidence of strong-arm tactics, but decided against prosecution of Ensign,
283:
After investigating for twenty-two months, the Senate Ethics
Committee concluded in May 2011 there was "substantial and credible evidence" that Ensign broke federal laws in his effort to cover up the extramarital affair. They referred the case to the Department of Justice and Federal Election
275:
spent several days in Las Vegas interviewing witnesses who had knowledge of Ensign's dealings with the
Hamptons. In February 2011, it was reported that the Senate ethics committee appointed a special counsel to lead the investigation. Hours later Ensign said that his re-election campaign was
105:
reported on Ensign's arrangements for Douglas Hampton, Ensign said: "I am confident we fully complied with the relevant laws and rules governing current and past employees. I have worked on these Nevada issues with these Nevada companies for years, long before Doug Hampton left my office."
100:
In 2008, after Hampton began working for the political consulting firm, Ensign and his staff repeatedly contacted federal agencies, often after requests from Hampton, on behalf of the companies that were Hampton's clients. In a statement published on October 1, the date that
304:
there was intense debate within DOJ about whether to prosecute Ensign; it ultimately decided against it. Details show that Ensign "strong-armed political donors and business associates in 2008 to find lobbying work for Douglas Hampton".
284:
Commission for further investigation. Their report said that Ensign may have violated laws related to "conspiracy, obstruction of justice and making false statements in attempting to cover up the affair and smooth over its aftermath."
84:
In early 2008, Douglas Hampton confronted Ensign about the affair. Ensign contacted political and corporate supporters in Nevada, seeking work for Hampton. Within the next few months, Ensign arranged for Hampton to join a
280:, senior Nevada Republicans and Republican Senate colleagues privately expressed concern that Ensign could cause them to lose his Senate seat. Senator Coburn was interviewed by the Ethics Committee in early March 2011.
254:
for Douglas and Cynthia Hampton, Ensign's actions in aiding and abetting Hampton's violation of the one-year lobbying prohibition for ex-Senate staffers, or Ensign sexually harassing Cynthia Hampton, would amount to
72:
office. When the affair was revealed by Doug Hampton in 2009, an Ensign spokesperson asserted that it had occurred between December 2007 and August 2008, but Hampton said that it began at Christmas 2006.
198:
reported on internal Department of Justice considerations in the decision not to prosecute Ensign, Hampton expressed bitterness that he had lost so much and Ensign had not been punished for his actions.
164:
reported that Douglas Hampton had spoken publicly for the first time about the affair. He said that Ensign and Cynthia Hampton continued the affair, although intermediaries, including Republican Senator
1031:
1026:
97:
after leaving their posts. Hampton later said he and Ensign were aware of the lobbying restriction but chose to ignore it. Cynthia Hampton also lost her job with Ensign's PAC in May 2008.
76:
Neither of the Hamptons worked for Ensign after May 2008. Cynthia Hampton never spoke publicly about the affair. She testified to the Senate Ethics Committee in 2011 in its investigation.
68:
of which Ensign was the honorary chairman). She and her husband Douglas Hampton were close friends of Ensign and his wife; Doug worked as a top administrative aide in Senator Ensign's
243:
978:
325:
169:
of Oklahoma, tried to persuade the senator to end it. Doug Hampton asserted that Coburn suggested that Ensign help the Hamptons pay off their home and move to Colorado.
272:
493:
539:"Spouse in Ensign affair sought help in letter to Fox News; Husband's account of how wife's affair with Ensign 'ruined our lives and careers' comes to light"
93:
and lined up several corporations who had been Ensign campaign donors as lobbying clients for Hampton. Under federal law senior aides such as Hampton are
297:
53:
173:
can do, not going to happen.' volunteered to help. He called me. And he recommended a significant number as one that he would float to the Ensigns."
246:(CREW) also asked the Senate to investigate Hampton's charge that Ensign had sexually harassed his wife. Cynthia Hampton has not commented on this.
219:
had assisted federal authorities in their investigation by turning over e-mails, seen as a sign that the official investigation is gathering steam.
396:
686:
416:
1036:
758:
227:
870:
194:
In May 2012, Doug Hampton reached a plea deal with prosecutors, the details of which have not yet been released. In 2014, after the
892:
629:
212:
44:
Washington, D.C. office, to gain a private lobbying job and apparently used his federal position to benefit Hampton's clients.
64:
At the time of the affair, Cynthia Hampton worked for Ensign as treasurer of the Senate and Battle Born PAC (a conservative
453:
117:
827:
584:
215:
was investigating possible criminal violations in connection with the affair. It was reported in July 2010 that Senator
223:
501:
713:
515:
65:
375:
94:
1008:
538:
146:
as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, the fourth-ranking spot in the Republican Party's leadership.
226:
dismissed a complaint against Ensign over the $ 96,000 payment Ensign's parents made. In December 2010, the
603:
56:
request in late 2014. Doug Hampton was prosecuted and reached a plea deal with the government in May 2012.
259:. The Senate ethics committee and the Department of Justice investigated the lobbying charges and issued
182:
48:
556:
36:
730:
474:
122:
19:
687:"Family devastated by Ensign scandal – mistress and cuckolded husband – in default on home"
437:
346:
949:
923:
802:
776:
664:
900:
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691:
293:
247:
239:
160:
953:
927:
806:
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580:
351:
115:
governing gifts." In late 2009, Doug Hampton disputed this interpretation, telling
69:
1005:
682:
326:
ERIC LICHTBLAU, "Documents Reveal Details of F.B.I. Inquiry Into Nevada Senator"
191:
findings, Ensign announced that he would resign his seat effective May 3, 2011.
134:
40:
24:
216:
166:
759:
Steve Tetreault, "Doug Hampton reaches plea deal in illegal lobbying charges"
651:"Exclusive: Doug Hampton Speaks Out on Sen. Ensign's Affair With His Wife"
650:
417:"Exclusive: Doug Hampton Speaks Out on Sen. Ensign's Affair With His Wife"
845:
649:
McFadden, Cynthia, Arons, Melinda & Sher, Lauren (November 23, 2009).
260:
138:
86:
896:
251:
256:
150:
that the couple was weighing how to respond to the Ensign statement.
90:
893:"I-Team: Committee Interviewing Las Vegas Witnesses in Ensign Probe"
18:
125:
for him for leaving his job as staffer to Ensign and not a gift.
438:
AP foreign, "Sen. Ensign admits affair with ex-campaign staffer"
403:
Caucus blog, June 16, 2009, 6:24 pm EDT. Retrieved 6/16/09.
454:
Laura Myers, "Ensign's former mistress speaks in ethics report"
250:, executive director of CREW, said to ABC that if true, the
376:"Ensign's mistress saw salary double, son was paid $ 5,400"
834:, December 1, 2010 11:41 pm ET. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
516:"Statement: Ensign's parents give mistress' family $ 96K"
475:"Senator's Aid to Mistress's Husband Raises Ethics Flags"
52:
according to internal federal documents released under a
979:"Senate ethics committee: Ensign violated federal laws"
374:
J. Patrick Coolican and Lisa Mascaro (June 17, 2009).
871:"Ethics Committee Issues Subpoenas in Ensign Inquiry"
712:
Memoli, Michael A., Lisa Mascaro, and Ashley Powers.
630:"Hampton speaks publicly, says Ensign paid severance"
720:, March 7, 2011, 1:15 pm. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
347:"Sen. Ensign admits affair with ex-campaign staffer"
244:
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
1032:
Federal political sex scandals in the United States
924:"John Ensign running, despite ethics investigation"
828:"Justice Department stops investigating John Ensign
714:"Nevada GOP Sen. John Ensign won't seek reelection"
133:On June 11, 2009, Douglas Hampton sent a letter to
1027:Political corruption scandals in the United States
972:
970:
473:Eric Lichtblau and Eric Lipton (October 2, 2009).
121:that it was "crystal clear" that the $ 96,000 was
645:
643:
585:"Husband of Ex-Mistress Sought Cash, Ensign Says"
276:increasing its fundraising efforts. According to
653:, ABC Nightline, Retrieved on December 5, 2009.
948:Raju, Manu; John Bresnahan (February 1, 2011).
922:Raju, Manu; John Bresnahan (February 1, 2011).
775:Raju, Manu; John Bresnahan (January 19, 2010).
273:United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics
1009:"Disgraced John Ensign Back in Legal Jeopardy"
803:"Tom Coburn gives feds e-mails on John Ensign"
537:Jeff German and Lisa Mascaro (June 19, 2009).
95:prohibited from lobbying the Senate for a year
574:
572:
570:
8:
977:Paul Kane; Carol D. Leaning (May 12, 2011).
801:Raju, Manu; John Bresnahan (July 23, 2010).
754:
752:
332:, 29 December 2014, accessed 20 October 2015
1001:
999:
557:"Text of Doug Hampton's letter to Fox News"
411:
409:
397:"Senator Ensign Admits Extramarital Affair"
731:"Sen. Ensign says he will resign on May 3"
891:Knapp, George; Matt Adams (May 6, 2010).
777:"FBI gets involved in John Ensign affair"
604:"Ensign Resigns From GOP Leadership Post"
340:
338:
846:"Ethics panel gets complaints on Ensign"
468:
466:
391:
389:
321:
319:
317:
313:
494:"Ensign Acknowledges Mistress Payment"
444:16 June 2009, accessed 20 October 2015
765:15 May 2012, accessed 20 October 2015
460:13 May 2011, accessed 20 October 2015
267:Senate Ethics Committee investigation
80:Lobbying position for Douglas Hampton
35:related to revelations in 2009 of an
7:
628:J. Patrick Coolican (July 8, 2009).
252:$ 96,000 unreported severance payoff
142:as an e-mail attachment on June 15.
271:In May 2010, investigators for the
14:
869:Lipton, Eric (December 4, 2009).
844:STEVE TETREAULT (June 25, 2009).
665:"John Ensign isolated by scandal"
881:, Retrieved on December 5, 2009.
345:Freking, Kevin (June 17, 2009).
602:Jonathan Karl (June 17, 2009).
492:Chris Cillizza (July 9, 2009).
213:Federal Bureau of Investigation
950:"Senate ramps up Ensign probe"
39:between United States Senator
1:
419:. ABC News. November 23, 2009
1037:Political scandals in Nevada
663:Manu Raju (March 15, 2010).
230:dropped its investigation.
224:Federal Election Commission
1053:
222:On November 10, 2010, the
66:political action committee
763:Las Vegas Review-Journal,
458:Las Vegas Review-Journal,
300:suit and reported by the
288:Renewed DOJ investigation
87:political consulting firm
47:Ensign resigned from the
16:Political scandal in 2009
1011:, Reuters, May 26, 2011.
850:Las Vegas Review-Journal
826:Fahrenthold, David A.,
395:Herszenhorn, David M.,
685:(September 22, 2010).
154:Sen. Coburn intervenes
28:
228:Department of Justice
22:
504:on October 10, 2012.
110:Financial settlement
518:. CNN. July 9, 2009
37:extramarital affair
33:John Ensign scandal
479:The New York Times
401:The New York Times
211:reported that the
103:The New York Times
29:
735:CNN International
718:Los Angeles Times
583:(June 20, 2009).
207:In January 2010,
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899:. Archived from
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737:. April 21, 2011
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563:. June 19, 2009.
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500:. Archived from
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158:On July 8, the
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579:Paul Kane and
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330:New York Times
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203:Investigations
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698:September 22,
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442:The Guardian,
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380:Las Vegas Sun
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181:According to
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21:
986:. Retrieved
982:
957:. Retrieved
954:The Politico
943:
931:. Retrieved
928:The Politico
917:
905:. Retrieved
901:the original
886:
878:
874:
865:
853:. Retrieved
849:
839:
831:
822:
810:. Retrieved
807:The Politico
796:
784:. Retrieved
781:The Politico
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762:
739:. Retrieved
734:
725:
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708:
696:. Retrieved
690:
683:Ralston, Jon
677:
668:
658:
633:
623:
611:. Retrieved
607:
597:
588:
581:Howard Kurtz
560:
551:
542:
532:
520:. Retrieved
510:
502:the original
497:
487:
478:
457:
449:
441:
433:
423:November 24,
421:. Retrieved
400:
379:
369:
359:November 26,
357:. Retrieved
352:The Guardian
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329:
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70:Capitol Hill
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1006:Murray Waas
933:February 8,
855:December 6,
786:January 20,
613:December 3,
240:progressive
135:Megyn Kelly
41:John Ensign
25:John Ensign
1021:Categories
875:The Caucus
309:References
217:Tom Coburn
167:Tom Coburn
741:April 21,
261:subpoenas
177:Aftermath
123:severance
118:Nightline
959:March 3,
812:July 24,
669:Politico
608:ABC News
355:. London
278:Politico
257:felonies
209:Politico
184:Politico
139:Fox News
23:Senator
988:May 13,
897:KLAS-TV
522:July 9,
907:May 9,
877:blog,
91:Nevada
60:Affair
49:Senate
27:(R-NV)
292:Sen.
990:2011
961:2011
935:2011
909:2010
857:2009
814:2010
788:2010
743:2011
700:2010
615:2012
524:2009
425:2009
361:2009
298:FOIA
238:The
234:CREW
137:, a
54:FOIA
31:The
89:in
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