juliaoceania
Posts: 21383
Joined: 4/19/2006 From: Somewhere Over the Rainbow Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy quote:
ORIGINAL: juliaoceania He did not resign because he had an affair, he resigned because the pitchforks were aimed at his neck if he didn't I agree. The GOP promptly takes care of these things, instead of dragging them out hoping the issue dies down. quote:
Embattled Nevada Sen. John Ensign (R) announced Thursday night that he will resign from office in early May [2011], a move that comes amid an ongoing ethics investigation into his conduct. “While I stand behind my firm belief that I have not violated any law, rule, or standard of conduct of the Senate, and I have fought to prove this publicly, I will not continue to subject my family, my constituents, or the Senate to any further rounds of investigation, depositions, drawn out proceedings, or especially public hearings,” Ensign said in a statement posted on his website. “For my family and me, this continued personal cost is simply too great.” Ensign’s resignation, which was first reported by Las Vegas Sun columnist Jon Ralston, will be official on May 3 and comes six weeks after he announced his plans to retire at the end of his current term, which expires in 2012. His departure comes as the Senate ethics committee is conducting an ongoing investigation into his handling of an affair with a former political aide -- whose husband was also a top legislative aide to the senator. Earlier this year the committee hired an outside counsel to begin a more formal investigative phase of Ensign’s actions, which would have likely led to either a public hearing on formal allegations or the public issuing of its allegations against the senator. Removed from the Senate, the ethics committee has no jurisdiction in the matter and likely will keep private the results of its 20-month investigation.(convenient, huh? In June 2009 Ensign publicly admitted that he had an affair with Cynthia Hampton, who was his political treasurer and was married to Doug Hampton, Ensign’s administrative assistant. The Ensign and Hampton families lived in the same neighborhood outside Las Vegas and were considered the best of friends. In 2008, when the affair became known to the other spouses, Ensign dismissed both Hamptons from his political and legislative payroll. Ensign’s parents, wealthy casino magnates, paid the Hampton family $96,000 in what was labeled gift income for tax purposes, the precise amount legally permissible without triggering taxes. In addition, Doug Hampton returned to Las Vegas and began working as a lobbyist for a consulting firm run by Ensign’s top political advisers. Doug Hampton has alleged that Ensign helped him line up his first few lobbying clients -- all donors to Ensign’s political committees -- and that the senator helped arrange meetings for Doug Hampton with Obama administration officials. A Justice Department investigation into possible criminal activity by Ensign ended with no charges. Hampton, however, has been indicted. Ensign’s resignation will allow newly elected Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) to appoint an interim replacement until the 2012 election next November. So.... there were other senators who knew about this affair (btw) in 2008 and SAT ON THAT INFORMATION. He actually INVOLVED THEM IN THE COVERUP. He didn't actually RESIGN until the eve of the hearing, which was started BY A DEMOCRATICALLY HELD SENATE. You are either ignorant, or full of crap, Will.
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