Sen. Ensign faces felony ethics inquiry

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.examiner.com/x-13572-RNC-Examiner~y2009m7d8-Sen-Ensign-faces-felony-ethics-inquiry

Updated 2009-07-09 5:00 PM MST

Senator John Ensign was today accused of paying more than $25,000 to Cynthia Hampton in a possible felony violation of campaign finance law. If convicted, the two-term Republican could face up to five years in federal prison.

The allegation was made by Doug Hampton in an interview with Las Vegas Sun columnist Jon Ralston. Doug Hampton, a former member of Ensign's senate staff, is Cynthia Hampton's husband and the man whom Ensign accused of extorting him in exchange for not making the affair public. No criminal investigation of the extortion allegation has been reported.

Cynthia Hampton was also an Ensign staff member, serving as the treasurer of Ensign’s political action committee and on his re-election campaign. Doug Hampton alleged that the $25,000 was paid to Cynthia Hampton as severance.

The Sun reports that Ensign could face a possible felony indictment if he failed to report the payment as an "in-kind" contribution to the campaign committees where Cynthia Hampton worked. According to ethics complaints filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), no such payments were reported.

[saltpoint]

1. "But I want to be the PRESIDENT!"

[Captain Hilts]

2. There is misuse of federal funds and campaign funds all over this. He's toast. nt

[GodlessBiker]

3. "Was today accused" and "If convicted" makes it sound like he was charged with a crime.

The guy is a piece of scum, but this is deceptive writing.

[Catshrink]

4. Sweet!

'bout time these sanctimonious repugs were held to account.

[DCKit]

10. Just one of thousands who would tell us how to live our lives.

I've got a family member - a serial adulterer, embezzler and tax cheat - who likes to lecture me on my evil ways and how he's afraid he won't meet me in heaven until I repent and accept Jesus.

I had far more patience with Republican hypocrisy until it became personal.

[Soylent Brice]

5. YAY!!

:toast: :party:

[asjr]

6. Hush money always rebounds.

[malaise]

7. Between the severance package and the hush money

Ensign is up S creek without a paddle.
:popcorn:

[NNN0LHI]

8. What about doubling her pay after he began porking her?

That looks funny too.

Don

[malaise]

9. That too - not to mention

the grand $96,000 from Ensign's parents. The IRS must be smiling at that one.