Ensign and the Assignations
Nevada Senator John Ensign was a social conservative, a member of the Promise Keepers Evangelical ministry, a vocal critic of both Larry Craig's and Bill Clinton's sexual indiscretions and the employer of Cynthia and Doug Hampton. Each of these things made his June 16 admission that he had an eight-month affair with Cynthia, Doug's wife, more awkward. Reports suggested he was prompted to admit to the affair, which had ended 10 months earlier, after blackmail threats from Mr. Hampton, which he denies. Ensign acknowledged that in 2008, his wealthy parents had paid Cynthia $96,000 "as a gift." Although he resigned his position as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee within days of his initial admission, Ensign has, like Clinton, remained in office.