New E-mails Could Expand Sen. John Ensign Investigation

3 years ago

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E-mails obtained by the FBI and congressional ethics investigators provide new evidence about Sen. John Ensign's efforts to allegedly provide lobbying jobs for the husband of his former mistress, in violation of Senate rules, The New York Times reported late Wednesday.

Ensign (R-Nev.) asked a Las Vegas development company to hire the husband, Douglas Hampton, after the firm had requested the senator's help on several energy projects in 2008, according to the e-mails.

Ensign had denied knowing the work might involve congressional lobbying but the e-mails apparently contradict that claim, according to the Times. It is the first written evidence tying the senator to efforts to find clients for Hampton after Ensign had an affair with his wife, Cynthia Hampton, the newspaper said.

Investigators are also examining a $96,000 payment Ensign's parents made to Douglas Hampton, one of the senator's closest friends and top aides.

"Senator Ensign has stated clearly, he has not violated any law or Senate ethics rule," said Rebecca Fisher, the senator's spokeswoman.

Ensign first admitted his affair with Cynthia Hampton in June 2009 after being prodded by Republican senators to end the affair.

Filed Under: Senate, Republicans, Scandal, Investigations, Congress

Tagged: Daily Guidance, DailyGuidance, John Ensign, JohnEnsign

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