Ensign’s Parents Paid Lover and Family $96,000

[BayGBM]

Ensign’s Parents Paid Lover and Family $96,000
By DAVID STOUT

Senator John Ensign’s parents gave almost $100,000 to his former lover and her family in April 2008, it was revealed on Thursday, as Mr. Ensign’s embarrassment over his extramarital affair seemed to deepen.

“In April 2008, Senator John Ensign’s parents each made gifts to Doug Hampton, Cindy Hampton, and two of their children in the form of a check totaling $96,000,” a statement on the senator’s behalf said. “Each gift was limited to $12,000. The payments were made as gifts, accepted as gifts and complied with tax rules governing gifts.”

Last month, the Republican senator from Nevada held a brief news conference in Las Vegas to announce that he had an affair with a campaign staff member (later identified as Cynthia Hampton), but had ended the relationship. In addition, his office confirmed that Mr. Hampton had recently demanded money and had threatened to go public with the affair just before the senator’s admission.

But the involvement by the senator’s parents was first revealed earlier today, as other details between Mr. Hampton, who also had worked for the senator in his office, and Mr. Ensign and other colleagues have spilled out in recent days.

“After the senator told his parents about the affair, his parents decided to make the gifts out of concern for the well-being of long-time family friends during a difficult time,” said the statement, first reported by The Las Vegas Sun on its Web site.

“The gifts are consistent with a pattern of generosity by the Ensign family to the Hamptons and others. None of the gifts came from campaign or official funds nor were they related to any campaign or official duties. Senator Ensign has complied with all applicable laws and Senate ethics rules.”

On Capitol Hill, Mr. Ensign told a reporter for the Sun that he had no intention of resigning. (He quit his leadership post in the Senate after initially disclosing the affair.) Ensign said today he has no plans to resign and intends to continue his work despite ongoing questions about his affair.

“I said before, I always planned on serving and working hard - working harder than I ever worked — and I’m going to continue to do that,” the senator said.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a watchdog group, is demanding that the Justice Department began an inquiry into whether Mr. Ensign paid Ms. Hampton additional money.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/ensigns-parents-paid-lover-and-family-96000/?hp

[Straw Man]

“In April 2008, Senator John Ensign’s parents each made gifts to Doug Hampton, Cindy Hampton, and two of their children in the form of a check totaling $96,000,”

“The gifts are consistent with a pattern of generosity by the Ensign family to the Hamptons and others

so each parent gave four $12,000 gifts to husband/wife and the two kids

I wonder if there was a card with the gift and if so, what did it say?  Maybe something like "Thanks for letting our son fuck your wife/mother"

I wonder who the "others" were who received gifts

[OzmO]

Family values.....

[Dos Equis]

Why is this guy still in office?   

[tonymctones]

honestly i think if youre a politician and you get caught in some personal scandel, drugs, cheating, lying etc...you should be forced to resign this shit is out of control ridiculous.

[Dos Equis]

honestly i think if youre a politician and you get caught in some personal scandel, drugs, cheating, lying etc...you should be forced to resign this shit is out of control ridiculous.

Agree.

[240 is Back]

Spitzer screwed up and quit.  That's what one should do.

This guy cheated. Now $ is smelling funny.  And he's not quitting.

Same with Sanford - suddenly he's repaying $ to the state because he got caught using state $ for his little 'foreign relations' field trips.




Sleep with anyone you want, whatever.  But when you use state $ to do it, you should be fired by both parties.

[Dos Equis]

Some of us have higher standards for our elected officials. 

[tonymctones]

Spitzer screwed up and quit.  That's what one should do.

This guy cheated. Now $ is smelling funny.  And he's not quitting.

Same with Sanford - suddenly he's repaying $ to the state because he got caught using state $ for his little 'foreign relations' field trips.




Sleep with anyone you want, whatever.  But when you use state $ to do it, you should be fired by both parties.

screw that how can we expect these fucktards to be ethical with our money and rights if they arent ethical in their own personal life? there is something that this country is sorely lacking in this day in age and that is to "just do the right thing" i know its not always the easiest but it will keep you out of trouble more times then not.

[240 is Back]

screw that how can we expect these fucktards to be ethical with our money and rights if they arent ethical in their own personal life? there is something that this country is sorely lacking in this day in age and that is to "just do the right thing" i know its not always the easiest but it will keep you out of trouble more times then not.

i'd love to see them resign, of course.  Spitzer did the right thing.

However, Senators Vitter and Craig were both caught red-handed, and kept their jobs.  Along with Ensirn, Sanford, etc.

I would love to see every cheater caught booted, but it's not gonna happen.  Repubs have what, 39,40 seats?  No way they boot Craig, Vitter and Ensign and end up with 37 seats.