Nevada's Republican Senator, John Ensign, is under investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee and the FBI. The NY Times got its hands on some new evidence in the case against Ensign -- and it looks bad. Like really breaking the law bad:
Previously undisclosed e-mail messages turned over to the F.B.I. and Senate ethics investigators provide new evidence about Senator John Ensign’s efforts to steer lobbying work to the embittered husband of his former mistress and could deepen his legal and political troubles.Prediction: Before the end of the year, Ensign will be referred to as "former Senator." It's one thing to be investigated by the Ethics Committee, which rarely takes any action against a fellow member. The FBI is another story.
Mr. Ensign, Republican of Nevada, suggested that a Las Vegas development firm hire the husband, Douglas Hampton, after it had sought the senator’s help on several energy projects in 2008, according to e-mail messages and interviews with company executives.
The messages are the first written records from Mr. Ensign documenting his efforts to find clients for Mr. Hampton, a top aide and close friend, after the senator had an affair with his wife, Cynthia Hampton. They appear to undercut the senator’s assertion that he did not know the work might involve Congressional lobbying, which could violate a federal ban on such activities by staff members for a year after leaving government.
And, let's not forget: Ensign lived in The Family's infamous C Street house. Yep, he's a real family values kind of guy.
