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 do ent, 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 res ution 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 ins ution 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 res ution 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.