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Sen. Ensign's Dad Could Lose Casino Project Over Scandal
Rachel Slajda | August 3, 2009, 10:48AM
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Michael Ensign, the father of Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), may be finding his business deals threatened after he admitted to giving his son's mistress and her husband $96,000.
Ensign, a partner in a proposed casino in Kansas, may be asked to withdraw from the project if investigators find he violated campaign finance law.
The head of the Kansas Lottery told the Kansas City Star that the lottery will conduct its own ethics investigation into Ensign's involvement in the scandal, in addition to watching for the results of any federal investigations into Sen. Ensign and his parents.
"If it is found that there was wrongdoing, that would have an effect on things," said Ed Van Petten. That effect could include keeping Ensign out of the management of the casino, or asking him to withdraw altogether, he said.
Ensign was chairman of the board of the company that ran Vegas's Mandalay Bay Resort. He reportedly made about $130 million after orchestrating Mandalay's sale to MGM in 2005.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has filed an FBI complaint over the payment.
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Chris
August 3, 2009 11:47 AM
How will this bode for the Freedom Fighting counterinsurgency wing of the party?
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Citoyen92
August 3, 2009 12:07 PM
Michael Ensign is the Senator's stepfather.
I'm guessing that paying off his stepson's mistress was just the cost of doing business, to protect other family interests which are ably handled by having a family member in the US Senate.
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FlownOver
August 3, 2009 6:15 PM in reply to Citoyen92
Michael Ensign adopted John Ensign and is therefore the senator's father.
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Johann
August 4, 2009 8:26 AM in reply to Citoyen92
Let's all not forget that prostitution is legal in Nevada. A $96,000 payment for sex, while above the going rate, is still legal there.
There may be questions concerning whether this prostitute was registered or was freelancing... whether or not her fees were exorbitant... but there is no question about its legality.
And, as for morality - again prostitution is legal in Nevada, therefore, it is the accepted legal morality.
.
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SBG
August 4, 2009 1:57 PM in reply to Johann
Got to be taxable income, right?
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Johann
August 5, 2009 7:26 AM in reply to SBG
There is always that tax thing and income tax evasion is still a federal crime.
.
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Cal Gal
August 3, 2009 12:11 PM
I'm missing the connection between bribing your son's paramour's family and campaign contributions. Help!
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MKSinSA
August 3, 2009 12:41 PM in reply to Cal Gal
As I understand it, it's because the wife was a campaign staffer and her salary fell under those finance laws, as would any supplemental gifts or pay.
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Johann
August 6, 2009 7:45 AM in reply to MKSinSA
Her salary as a campaign staffer would fall under the campaign finance laws. On the other hand, her salary as a freelance prostitute (her second job) would NOT fall under the campaign finance laws.
Since prostitution is legal in Nevada, Ensign is in the clear on this since the payments were presumably made in Nevada. Concerning the income tax situation - paying that is the responsibility of the earner, not the employer (Ensign's parents) so Ensign is in the clear on this also.
Just what is it that anyone thinks he can legally be charged with - other than a lack of morals or a large dose of hypocracy, neither of which is a handicap for current Republican politicians.
.
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MKSinSA
August 6, 2009 9:43 AM in reply to Johann
LOL, if only it were that simple.
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phelicity
August 3, 2009 12:43 PM in reply to Cal Gal
Me too. And I must say that no self-respecting mistress would let her multi-millionaire lover off the hook for a mere $96 grand.
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DICKERSON3870
August 3, 2009 6:47 PM in reply to Cal Gal
RE:"I'm missing the connection between bribing your son's paramour's family and campaign contributions. Help!" - Cal Gal
MY COMMENT: People involved with casinos generally must have very clean records. It is possible that the $96,000 payment to a politician's mistress and her husband to keep them quiet is as much of a campaign contribution as buying the politician $96,000 worth of advertising. If so, this amount far exceeds the $2,300/$4,600 on individual contributions to a U.S. Senator's campaign and is therefore illegal under Federal law. Being guilty of making such an illegal political contribution might disqualify a person under Kansas state law from involvement with a casino operation in the state of Kansas.
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Johann
August 6, 2009 7:50 AM in reply to DICKERSON3870
You are making a very unsubstantiated assumption that the $96,000 was "hush" money, not a salary paid for a prostitute to "service" their son - an activity which is perfectly legal in Nevada.
.
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notthatstupid
August 3, 2009 12:13 PM
I hope he enjoyed himself. This might be one of the most expensive series of "booty calls" in history.
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mac2151
August 3, 2009 12:59 PM
What's wrong with this picture?
Karen Seitz is with Goldman and helps Millard deplete federal pension funds.
Nancy Seitz is with Mike Ensign at Kansas Gaming Partners and they want to build two casinos in Kansas.
Will there be slot machines in the new bio-lab too?
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roncraw1
August 3, 2009 1:30 PM
Anyone with any connection with c-street religious nuts should be investigated.
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roncraw1
August 3, 2009 1:32 PM
Anyone with any connection with c-street religious nuts should be investigated.
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hollywood
August 3, 2009 5:22 PM in reply to roncraw1
I second that!
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Johann
August 6, 2009 7:55 AM in reply to hollywood
The "C" street regulars are not religious, they are pagan athiests hiding behind religion.
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