Ensign staff tell ethics panel inquiry that lobbying rule-breaking was known

[babylonsister]

Ensign staff tell ethics panel inquiry that lobbying rule-breaking was known
By Susan Crabtree - 06/22/10 09:25 PM ET


In depositions to the Senate Ethics Committee, staffers for Sen. John Ensign have said the Nevada Republican and his senior aides knew a one-year lobbying ban was being broken when they helped a former staffer set up a short-lived career on K Street, according to two sources close to the investigation.

The information was provided as part of a probe the panel is conducting into payments Ensign’s parents made to Cynthia and Douglas Hampton. Ensign was having an affair with Cynthia, who is married to Douglas.

Both worked for Ensign and Douglas Hampton was a close political aide. Ensign’s parents paid the Hamptons $96,000 once they left the senator’s employment. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a complaint with the Ethics panel, charging Ensign with paying the money to keep the Hamptons quiet about the affair.

The staffers told Senate Ethics investigators that several aides in the office openly discussed Douglas Hampton’s lobbying job and the one-year revolving-door ban it appeared to violate, the sources said.

At least one Ensign aide told the panel that Ensign and Hampton were so bold about the lobbying job that the pair ate lunch together at least once in the Senate dining room, the sources said.

more...

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/104915-ensign-staff-say-rule-breaking-was-known

[Bitwit1234]

1. This is because republicans knew they would be nothing done

because they were REPUBLICANS. And especially during the Bush administration republicans got a pass. What makes this so frustrating is this is the only crooked thing the Democrats pursued. Disgusting they didn't go after the other stuff. I would love to see Rove sitting in jail.

[malaise]

2. Good

This one isn't going away. Why haven't Ensign and his parents been charged by the FBI yet?

[babylonsister]

3. Hopefully it's coming; he better not get away with this. And

as someone else mentioned, why isn't the m$m talking about this? Rangel is getting an awful lot of press.

Things that make you go hmmm...

[kestrel91316]

4. I am not optimistic about a prosecution. Senators of both parties are part

of a privileged class as far as Dem administrations are concerned.

[global1]

5. Watch For A Deal To Be Made - Ensign For Rangel..........

and they'll both get off 'scott free'.