E-Mail Trail Leads to Trouble for Sen. Ensign

Posted on Mar 10, 2010

Wikimedia Commons / United States Senate

More legal and political fallout is on the way for Sen. John Ensign as a result of his affair with a former aide’s wife. The New York Times reported Wednesday that new e-mail evidence has emerged suggesting the Nevada senator knew he was trying to help said aide, Douglas Hampton, land lobbying work after Ensign’s relationship with Hampton’s wife, Cynthia, was over.  —KA

The New York Times:

The F.B.I. and the Senate Ethics Committee are investigating whether Mr. Ensign, in trying to contain the fallout from his affair with Ms. Hampton, conspired to find lobbying work for her husband despite the federal restrictions. They are also examining a $96,000 payment Mr. Ensign’s parents made to the Hamptons.

Mr. Hampton has said that the senator promised to work around the lobbying ban and help him make up the income that he and his wife, a former Ensign campaign staff member, lost when they left their jobs after the affair ended in 2008.

The e-mail messages involving P2SA, which were provided to The New York Times by someone involved in the case, appear to open a new line of inquiry to investigators.

In October, The Times disclosed Mr. Ensign’s role in securing lucrative jobs for Mr. Hampton at two other Nevada companies — NV Energy and Allegiant Air — and intervening with federal officials on behalf of those companies. But the senator’s discussions with P2SA executives about potential work for Mr. Hampton have not been previously reported.

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