Ensign paid $96k to mistress's family
By: Manu Raju
Politico
July 9, 2009 03:11 PM EST

U.S. Sen. John Ensign's attorney acknowledged Thursday that the Nevada
Republican's parents paid nearly $100,000 to the family of his mistress
around the time she and her husband left his staff in April 2008.

Paul Coggins, Ensign's attorney, said in a statement that the senator
gave Doug Hampton, Cindy Hampton and their two children gifts worth
$96,000 and that "each gift was limited to $12,000."

"The payments were made as gifts, accepted as gifts and complied with
tax rules governing gifts," Coggins said.

Coggins said that after Ensign told his parents about his affair with
Cindy Hampton — who was an then a campaign aide — the senator's parents
"decided to make the gifts out of concern for the well-being of longtime
family friends during a difficult time.

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

Ensign's attorney said that none of the gifts came from campaign or
official funds and were not related to his official duties, saying that
he complied with all ethics laws.

His disclosure comes as the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility
and Ethics in Washington called on the Justice Department to investigate
potential criminal wrongdoing of Ensign reportedly giving Cindy Hampton
more than $25,000 in a severance package. The group says that under
federal law, failing to report contributions of more than $25,000 can
result in five years in jail.

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Hehehe...it just goes on and on for these family value Republicans.