Senate Panel Finds Wrongdoing By Ensign; Refers Case To DOJ

Chappy · May 12, 2011

“In the course of its inquiry, the committee discovered information giving it reason to believe that Sen. Ensign and others violated laws that fall within the Department of Justice's jurisdiction.” — letter to the Justice Department, Chairman Barbara Boxer (D., Calif.) and Vice Chairman Johnny Isakson (R., Ga.)

It is rare for a legislative ethics committee to pursue matters after the member has resigned but in the face of the egregious and garish acts of Senator Ensign and others, some still members of the U.S. Senate, this committee has felt compelled to act in dramatic fashion.

Excerpted from �“Senate Panel Finds Wrongdoing By Ensign; Refers Case To DOJ” By Siobhan Hughes and Brody Mullins, The Wall Street Journal, MAY 12, 2011, 5:57 P.M. ET
[SIZE="+2"]T[/SIZE]he U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics concluded Thursday that former Sen. John Ensign (R., Nev.) may have violated federal laws and Senate rules in his handling of an affair with a former campaign aide, and referred the matter to the Justice Department and the Federal Election Commission.

The committee has been investigating Ensign for almost two years, after the former senator admitted having an extramarital relationship with Cindy Hampton, his ex-campaign treasurer and the wife of Doug Hampton, his former aide, both of whom were good friends. Ensign resigned from the Senate effective May 3, the day before he was to be deposed by the committee. …

PeteEU · May 13, 2011

Amazed he had the balls to stay around so long and even run for re-election..

Loose Feather · May 13, 2011

What did he do? Stick a cigar up someones orifice? Rape someone when they asked for a job?

Chappy · May 13, 2011

No rape charges are involved that I know of. No personal, private sexual foibles, either.

“The Senate Ethics Committee has referred the case of former Republican Nevada Senator John Ensign to the Justice Department and the Federal Election Commission. The committee says its investigation revealed Ensign's actions following his affair with a political aide may have broken federal law and Senate rules.” — Bret Baier, Special Report with Bret Baier, Fox News, 5/12/11

The charges are not sexual but arise from Senator Ensign covering up a personal, private sexual affair. It's always the cover-up that gets these guys.

See Also: Fox Whitewashes Ensign Ethics Scandal | Media Matters for America

hazlnut · May 13, 2011

This one is just getting started:

Ensign Charged, Coburn Named Collaborator

Following a 22 month investigation, the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, chaired by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Vice Chair Johnny Isakson (R-GA), released a report yesterday, supported unanimously by the bipartisan committee of three Democrats and three Republicans, that former Nevada Senator John Ensign violated Senate rules, broke federal law, made false statements to the Federal Election Committee, and engaged in sex discrimination. According to the report, "there is substantial credible evidence that Senator Ensign discriminated on the basis of sex and engaged in improper conduct reflecting upon the Senate by terminating the Hamptons' [Douglas Hampton, Ensign's Chief of Staff, and his wife Cindy] employment because of the [sexual] affair" with Cindy.

Moreover, the Ethics Committee found that Ensign attempted to thwart the Ethics Committee's preliminary inquiry, demonstrated improper conduct, and violated laws governing campaign finances. The Ethics Committee investigation also revealed anti-women's rights and so-called pro-family Senator Tom Coburn's (R-OK) involvement and collaboration in the cover-up of Ensign's affair. Both Senators Ensign and Coburn were residents at C-Street, a right wing so-called religious organization where several Republican leaders were revealed to be in sexual scandals.

PeteEU · May 13, 2011

Loose Feather said:
What did he do? Stick a cigar up someones orifice? Rape someone when they asked for a job?

probably.. he was banging some employee. but he did lie under oath and committed fraud both election and economic fraud. All in the while doing this and being suspected of it, he was pulling a nice wage as a GOP Senator and had the balls to run for re-election and actually win..

Blue Dog · May 13, 2011

The Justice Department would do itself a favor by throwing the book at this guy. Our elected officials should be treated like criminals when they act like them. Any slack given to Ensign sends the wrong message to the american people.

hazlnut · May 13, 2011

Are these the C Street Fellowship folks?

Holier than thou and all that b.s.

'Put your pants on and leave': Senate report reveals sordid details of top Republican's affair with aide's wife

Councilman · May 13, 2011

Barbara Boxer hates bot being able to make some fool look bad evem when he did it to himself. I don't really have a problem with him paying for what he did in breaking the law, but I am troubled by the thought that if he were a Muslim, or a Black Panther all would be for given.

However he's a white man and for that someone get a rope. We are going to have justice Obama/Holder style, "Open and Transparent," unless you ask too many questions or want to know the truth about any issue.

Oh get a grip I already said he needs to be punished. I just can't get the truth out of my head like others seem to be able to do.

hazlnut · May 14, 2011

The C Street house sound like quite a party.

Coucilman, being a Muslim or joining the Black Panthers is not a crime.

Senate Panel Finds Wrongdoing By Ensign; Refers Case To DOJ

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Senate Panel Finds Wrongdoing By Ensign; Refers Case To DOJ

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