Senator John Ensign (R), Nevada, first announced he had had an affair with a campaign staffer. He reported to the Associated Press that he was being "extorted" for money.
The Hamptons denied extortion and since then, the whole sordid affair has turned into a 'he said, she said' story.
Yesterday, a hand written letter by the senator to Cynthia Hampton was given to various media outlets by Cynthia's husband, Doug, former office administrative assistant to Ensign.
Rumor had it that Senator Tom Coburn (R), Oklahoma, Christian fellowship housemate to Ensign had urged Ensign to write the letter. Doug Hampton claims that Ensign continued to pursue his wife after the letter was sent to her.
Senator Coburn's office issued this statement yesterday:
Dr. Coburn did everything he could to encourage Senator Ensign to end his affair and to persuade Senator Ensign to repair the damage he had caused to his own marriage and the Hampton's marriage. Had Senator Ensign followed Dr. Coburn's advice, this episode would have ended, and been made public, long ago.
Today, Senator Coburn has clammed up about the issue, citing privileged communications, claiming that since he is a doctor, conversations with Ensign are covered by physician patient privacy.
Today it was revealed that Senator Ensign's parents have paid almost $100,000 to Ensign's ex-mistress, Cynthia Hampton. Ensign's lawyers say the money was given in "gifts" to help the family through a difficult time after Ensign revealed to his parents he had had an affair with Hampton.
Here is what David Shuster and Tamron Hall reported earlier today.
None of the players in this story appear guileless. We can only wait to see just how sleazy this story will get. Doug Hampton spoke out for the first time today. To see more about his story, see the Las Vegas Sun.
Comments
Since 1976 the democrats have a slight edge on the republicans in sex scandals 16-14. I'm not sure if they included Barney Frank though?
One big orgy up there on the Hill!
Flesh for Fantasy: It's not a Democratic or Republican issue, the whole thing is a big sleazy mess. He ought to resign. Sanford ought to resign. Anybody who pretends to be a good conservative Christian and then has a sleazy affair and pays money to their mistresses family is disgusting and shouldn't be representing anyone. I'm sick of the Christian conservatives holier than thou bullshit when they are the very ones who pull this kind of sleazy crap.
Karen,
Well that is pretty good stuff, would make a good made for TV movie, now all we need is an assassin. Now, having said all that, what information are you trying to pass on to us? Are we supposed to learn something from your post? Or are you just giddy because another evil Republican has has gotten himself in hot water?
I agree. Slime ball!
"Since 1976 the democrats have a slight edge on the republicans in sex scandals 16-14. I'm not sure if they included Barney Frank though?
"
Name them....
The so - called Christians, Mark Sanford and John Ensign are part of the creepy fundamentalist "Family" that believes that they should model themselves after King David in the bible. Sanford compared himself to Kind David in the bible. King David had an illicit affair and ordered the woman's husband be killed. The Family models themselves on King David, not because he's a good guy but because he's a bad guy. The Family believes that their form of Christianity dictates that greed is good and that a few people like Sanford, Coburn and Ensign deserve to treat people poorly and retain power. That is why none of them will resign. They are evil. How anybody here can defend the sleaze of any of these men is mystifying. Instead of discussing the problem with politicians having illicit affairs, illegally paying for them with RNC funds or getting their mom and dad to pay them off like Ensign, the weakminded reduce the argument to 'If GOP has sleazy affairs it's okay. That's stupid.
FleshFantasy: it's not a contest. It seems to me that if you really want to tote up the adulterers in politics that you might notice the evil doers are all men.
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