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Senate Ethics Panel Finds Evidence Ensign Broke Laws

05/12/2011 1:00 pm 0 comments

The Senate Ethics Committee is referring its report on Republican John Ensign to the U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Election Commission because senators have “reason to believe” he violated laws within their jurisidictions.

Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., just made the announcement on the Senate floor as the committee released its report. She said the committee’s special counsel said the findings were “so disturbing” that if Ensign had not resigned the evidence “would have been substantial enough for consideration of expulsion.”

The ethics investigation of Ensign, who had an extramarital affair with a former campaign aide, began in 2009 and continued even after the Nevada Republican left the Senate on May 3. When Ensign announced he would step down, Boxer and vice chairman Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., issued a terse statement that he “made the appropriate decision” but vowed to keep on with the committee’s work.

Ensign admitted he had an affair with Cynthia Hampton, a former aide who is married to Douglas Hampton, who also worked for the Nevada senator. It was later revealed that Ensign’s parents paid the Hamptons $96,000 after Douglas Hampton left his job in the senator’s office.

To read this article in its entirety visit the USA Today.

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