John Ensign admits cheating on his wife

I wonder why he's just coming out with this right now. Maybe he was getting black mailed.

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Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, a leading Republican mentioned as a potential presidential candidate, admitted Tuesday he had an extramarital affair with a former member of his campaign staff.

"I deeply regret and am very sorry for my actions," the conservative lawmaker said a statement to The Associated Press.

An aide in Ensign's office said the affair took place between December 2007 and August 2008 with a campaign staffer who was married to an employee in Ensign's Senate office. Neither has worked for the senator since May 2008. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the developments.

The aide declined to comment on whether Ensign would resign. Ensign scheduled a news conference in Las Vegas for later Tuesday. Ensign did not participate earlier Tuesday in a vote concerning the ailing travel industry, an unusual absence considering the topic's relevance in his home state.

"I know that I have deeply hurt and disappointed my wife, my children, my family, my friends, my staff and the people of Nevada who believed in me not just as a legislator but as a person," Ensign said.

Ensign's wife, Darlene, also released a statement about the affair.

"Since we found out last year we have worked through the situation and we have come to a reconciliation. This has been difficult on both families. With the help of our family and close friends our marriage has become stronger," Mrs. Ensign said.

The Ensigns have three children.

Ensign was first elected to the Senate in 2000 and has been an influential conservative voice within that chamber. Last year, his GOP colleagues picked him to serve as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, moving him to the No. 4 position in leadership. The committee coordinates the GOP's legislative efforts in the Senate. Previously, Ensign ran the Republican Senate campaign operations.

Last month, Ensign traveled to Iowa for a speech organized by a conservative advocacy group, sparking speculation that he had an interest in possibly running for president. Aides said the visit was about staking out a leadership position within the GOP.

Ensign has been a rising star among conservatives, speaking out against President Barack Obama's stimulus package, statehood for the District of Columbia and union-organizing legislation and in favor of gun owners' rights

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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009...paign-staffer/



In his defense, he did say this happened when they were separated. I'm not sure how long they were separated... but the affair lasted about 9 months.

i'm just glad it was with a chick.

"We were on a break!"

Why do politicians wives always stand by their man? My wife would stab me in the jugular with an ice pick if I pulled that shit.

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Originally Posted by SnakeBoy

Why do politicians wives always stand by their man? My wife would stab me in the jugular with an ice pick if I pulled that shit.

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Sounds pretty lucky. I'd rather it be in my jugular than somewhere else.....

He wants to "move on with his life" and knows Americans have no memory at all. 3 years from now, his adultery will be forgotten, a non-issue.

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Originally Posted by ChumpDumper

"We were on a break!"

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:lmao @ Ross-speak

Yes, he was being blackmailed. Rather than being controlled by a money hungry bitch, he came clean with it rather than chance it coming out trying to keep it quiet.

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Originally Posted by 4cc

if you commit adultery should you be fired

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Would there be any democrats left?

Cheating has become a rather common thing in America. I'll never defend it, but there are far more important things to worry about an elected official. Unless their private lives are interfere with their job, we should allow that separation to remain.

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Originally Posted by 4cc

if you commit adultery should you be fired

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He seemed to think Clinton should be when he was running against Reid. Maybe he has a short memory.

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Originally Posted by wild cobra

would there be any politicians left?

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fify.

Nobody's business.

Family values fail again...........

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Originally Posted by ChumpDumper

"We were on a break!"

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http://www.tvgasm.com/shows/images/h...2820041524.jpg

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"Everybody does EVERYTHING in order to get laid."

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- George Carlin (RIP)

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Originally Posted by ChumpDumper

Nobody's business.

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Exactly. I do not care if a politician is gay, having an extra-marital affair or both.

This is no litmus test for public officials. It never has been and it never should be.

yeah, i really don't care where politicians place their genitals, but i tested my theory, which i've stated here before, and it pretty much held true. whenever a republican has an affair it's stated that they're republican within 2 paragraphs. when it's a democrat it's buried in the article if it's stated at all. that is all. i'll test it again, hopefully, soon.

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Originally Posted by Viva Las Espuelas

yeah, i really don't care where politicians place their genitals, but i tested my theory, which i've stated here before, and it pretty much held true. whenever a republican has an affair it's stated that they're republican within 2 paragraphs. when it's a democrat it's buried in the article if it's stated at all. that is all. i'll test it again, hopefully, soon.

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You do have to admit though that the republicans set themselves up for the extra scrutiny with the way they've decided to be the party who wants to legislate morality. I doubt there's much difference in the number of republican politicians who cheat on their wives and the number of democrats who cheat on theirs, but democrats aren't the ones on the "marriage is sacred" campaign.

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Originally Posted by DarkReign

Exactly. I do not care if a politician is gay, having an extra-marital affair or both.

This is no litmus test for public officials. It never has been and it never should be.

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On a purely political basis, I don't care about those either. Some of the greatest political minds have been morally bankrupt.

The thing to me, is that in a democratic government, a politicians ability to perform well is based in large parts on trust. Do the people trust him? Do his fellow Senators trust him? Because I don't know that in those same spots I would necessarily rely on someone to come through with their end of the deal since its been proven that he can't be honest with those closest to him. In the end, if he is able to function at a higher political level than the alternatives, then re-elect him. If he isn't, then don't.

That is a pretty shitty theory.

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Originally Posted by jman3000

That is a pretty shitty theory.

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Care to expand upon that?

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Originally Posted by jman3000

That is a pretty shitty theory.

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riiiiight............

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Originally Posted by sam1617

Care to expand upon that?

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:wakeup

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Originally Posted by sam1617

Care to expand upon that?

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Not you. This great theory:

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Originally Posted by Viva Las Espuelas

yeah, i really don't care where politicians place their genitals, but i tested my theory, which i've stated here before, and it pretty much held true. whenever a republican has an affair it's stated that they're republican within 2 paragraphs. when it's a democrat it's buried in the article if it's stated at all. that is all. i'll test it again, hopefully, soon.

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All I heard/read when the Edwards scandal hit was "former Democratic vice presidential nominee". If they are an elected official their party affiliation will be mentioned, that's life.

I'd like to see the articles you've read to make you want to form such a "theory".

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Originally Posted by jman3000

That is a pretty shitty theory.

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The ability to make deals in a system like ours does depend somewhat on trust. I'd say Sam's point is a commonplace rather than a crappy theory.

I wasn't replying to Sam... I was away from my computer for a bit and when I finally hit "post reply" it was 6 minutes later.

who cares?

Ok. My bad.

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"Since we found out last year we have worked through the situation and we have come to a reconciliation. This has been difficult on both families. With the help of our family and close friends our marriage has become stronger," Mrs. Ensign said.

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the wife already knew a year ago, so I doubt blackmail of some sort is involved.

I think it's pretty clear this guy is going to make a push for the Republican nod in 2012 and wants to clean out his closet now so that someone else doesn't.

I don't really care either way... it's just gonna be interesting to see how he and his party handle the situation.

If he was getting blackmailed then I hope people don't try to paint him as a victim. He made his bed... now he has to sleep in it.

I've always wanted to say that.

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Originally Posted by jman3000

I don't really care either way... it's just gonna be interesting to see how he and his party handle the situation.

If he was getting blackmailed then I hope people don't try to paint him as a victim. He made his bed... now he has to sleep in it.

I've always wanted to say that.

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When a party wraps itself in 'morals and 'family values' they will be skewered when they stray. Especially when they try and demonize the other party for not having these principles..

FFS, is it really that hard to not cheat on your spouse.

Not the first affair...

Ensign needs to get with the program. As a GOPer, it's OK to just out and ditch your wife, even in the hospital (right, Newt?), and then trade in for a new model, but for GOD'S sake don't fuck around on her.

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The disclosure resurrected questions about a two-week period in 2002, when Ensign abruptly dropped from public view. A person familiar with that episode, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said Tuesday the senator told a close associate the absence followed an earlier affair.

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Not the way to win the base. A serial philanderer? He'll be the next Clinton!!!

Now we learn Fox news sat on the story..but,but,but, they are fair and balanced...:lmao

Spouse of Ensign’s mistress 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

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So among the key questions that remain unanswered are:

— Did Fox News receive the letter, and if the network did, what did it do with the information?

— How did Ensign learn that Hampton had “approached a major television news channel”?

In the letter, Hampton states that he wanted “to establish the framework for discussion and provide enough information to warrant a meeting with you (Kelly) and Fox News.” He said he had “great respect” for Fox News and was contacting Kelly because she is a lawyer and the story had several legal elements to it.

Near the end of the two-page, single-spaced document, he noted: “I could have sought the most liberal, Republican hating media to expose this story, but there are people’s lives at stake and justice is about proper process as well as outcome. Senator Ensign has no business serving in the US Senate anymore!”

Hampton’s timeline of the affair — December 2007 through August 2008 — matches what Ensign and his staff described earlier this week.

“Senator Ensign’s conduct and relentless pursuit of my wife led to our dismissal in April 2008,” Hampton wrote. “I would like to say he stopped his heinous conduct and pursuit upon our leaving, but that was not the case, and his actions did not subside until August of 2008.”

Hampton also wrote that he and others had confronted Ensign about his “unethical behavior and immoral choice” on a number of occasions over the past year.

“In fact, one of the confrontations took place in February 2008 at his (Ensign’s) home in Washington D.C. with a group of his peers,” Hampton added. “One of the attendees was Senator Tom Coburn from Oklahoma, as well as several other men who are close to the senator.”

Don Tatro, a spokesman for Oklahoma Republican, said late Thursday that Coburn had no comment.

In his letter, Hampton said he sought Fox News’ help out of desperation.

“It appears there may be nothing the law can do to correct and bring justice and restitution to this terrible wrong that has been done us,” he wrote. “I have sought a number of lawyers who are having difficulty finding charges that may hold up in court.”

Hampton said he understood the story was difficult to believe, but he added that there was a paper trail, phone records and witnesses to corroborate the allegations.

“It is my belief we are dealing with a very powerful person and institution in the U.S. Senate that only the media can pierce to expose the wrong and bring light and focus to what needs to be done.

“Please help me! This should not be how the leadership of our country should be allowed to behave. I need justice, help and restitution for what Senator Ensign has done to me and my family.”

He said he wanted to meet with Kelly and her “team as soon as possible” and would follow up with an e-mail.

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And then Fox News posts the following story:

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Sources Say 'Extortion' Threat Was Behind GOP Senator's Admission of Affair With Staff Member
Republican Sen. John Ensign of Nevada is admitting he had an extramarital affair with a member of his campaign staff.

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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009...paign-staffer/

Ew, this is getting more sordid with reports of payoffs to the woman's family in the form of jobs for the husband and son -- not to mention another Senator is being accused of knowing of the affair for some time. Well, it wouldn't hurt the numbers in the Senate if he resigned, so that has to be an option -- especially since he said he would when he called for other unfaithful politicians to resign.