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Nevada GOP Rep: Ensign Should Answer Questions About Affair
The pressure is growing for John Ensign to break his silence over his affair with a staffer who was his close friend's wife.
Rep. Dean Heller has become the first high-ranking Nevada Republican to call for the senator to address the numerous unanswered question about his torrid liaison with Cindy Hampton. Speaking in a televised interview to Las Vegas Sun political columnist Jon Ralston -- who has led the way in keeping the story in the spotlight -- Heller said: "I don't want to speculate, but until John talks, we haven't seen the end of it."
When Ralston asked, "And he should talk, shouldn't he?," Heller replied: "I think he should."
Ensign admitted to the affair at a mid-June appearance in front of the cameras, but took no questions, and has stayed mum ever since.
The Senate Ethics committee and the FEC have both been asked to look into questions relating to the affair, which involved Ensign, through his parents, making payments of $96,000 to his mistress and her husband.
Heller also acknowledged to Ralston that the Ensign brouhaha had influenced his decision not to challenge Harry Reid for Nevada's other Senate set next year.
"It just gave pause," Heller told Ralston. "I had anticipated in a good campaign like this Sen. Ensign being there with me."
Heller continued: "Sen. Ensign had to be there when I announced. Sen. Ensign had to deflect some of the attacks that would have occurred in a very rough and tumble campaign like that. All of a sudden that variable was out."
Still, Ensign himself will be up for reelection in 2012, if he lasts that long. Could Heller be figuring he has a better shot by waiting until then?
Indeed, the Sun reports:
A Republican operative, granted anonymity to speak freely, speculated that Reid assured Heller that he would not stand in the way of a 2012 run and would even tacitly help him by directing his fundraising network toward Heller.
If that speculation is accurate -- and it's a big if -- it won't exactly bolster Reid's credentials as the kind of leader Democrats need.
But whatever the case, things aren't looking great for Ensign.
Josh
Zachary
Ensign on the way out? Must have had a meeting of the Five Families... and Dad lost.
August 13, 2009 1:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is all about the NV voters and what they will do about Ensign. The shit of a Senator will not resign so NV what are you going to do about it?
August 13, 2009 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obviously Heller is tossing Ensign under the bus for his seat in 2012. And with Harry being such a nice guy he'll most likely not back anyone to run against Heller, because the Quid Pro Quo is, "leave me alone now and I'll have your back in 2012". Makes complete sense. Typical politics from the siver state!!
August 13, 2009 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
What has been missed in all this reporting concerning Ensign and Cindy Hampton is that prostitution is legal in Nevada.
Cindy Hampton prostituted herself for payments of $96,000. Simple. That is legal in Nevada. There is nothing here. Let's move on to something important.
Whether that money was paid by Ensign himself, or by his parents doesn't matter. Whether the going rate for a prostitute in Nevada is more or less than $96,000 also doesn't matter.
While it is fun to poke fun at a "Family Values" Republican who was a leader in the impeachment of President Clinton, hypocracy has proven to be a plus for Republicans over the years. Especially when they come to Jesus, repent, and ask forgiveness for their sins.
.
August 13, 2009 11:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wait..."torrid liaison"? Has TPM been holding back on some salacious details? Or should I head over to your sister site, TMZ, for those?
As for prostitution in NV, it may be legal, but it ain't legal in town. If Mrs Hampton was exchanging 96K for services rendered within city limits, she and JohnnyE were breaking the law. If the love shack was mobile and they were parked just outside the city limits, well, only then would that would be a different matter.
August 14, 2009 3:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Tinnitus:
"If the love shack was mobile and they were parked just outside the city limits, well, only then would that would be a different matter."
Can you explain the difference?
Most states accept liscenses granted by other states. Are you saying that the District of Columbia is different? That a drivers license, or a license to prostitute issued in Nevada is not valid in DC?
There is the issue of whether Mrs. Hampton was licensed as a prostitute in Nevada, and there is always the income tax issue for money earned.
Both those issues reflect on the Hamptons, not on Sen Ensign.
.
August 14, 2009 8:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm a liberal dem and hate to say anything in defense of this but I have to. What more should Ensign say? It's a simple case of a married man screwing around, trying to cover it up and having rich parents to help him. Employing somebody you're sleeping with is too common to even mention. What questions can he answer? Why didn't he do a better job of covering it up?
August 14, 2009 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink