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Politics : The Obama - Clinton Disaster -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DuckTapeSunroof who wrote (14265)	6/24/2009 5:18:19 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Respond to of 103300

Complaints Filed Against Ensign CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS June 24, 2009 – 2:33 p.m. By Bart Jansen, CQ Staff cqpolitics.com A public watchdog group has filed formal complaints with the Senate Ethics Committee and the Federal Elections Commission calling for investigations of Sen. John Ensign . The complaints from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington raise questions about the dismissal of his campaign treasurer, whom Ensign has admitted having an affair with, and alleged severance payments made to her and her husband, who was also on the Senate staff of the Nevada Republican. Ensign’s office did not respond immediately to requests for comment. The ethics complaint cites a number of reports about the nine-month affair between Ensign and Cynthia Hampton during the 2008 elections and alleges that Ensign’s handling of the matter may have violated Senate rules and federal campaign law. The group also cited a letter that Cynthia Hampton’s husband, Douglas Hampton, released to the media that alleges he and his wife were fired by Ensign. The complaint also notes published reports that Ensign made a severance payment to Cynthia Hampton, which the group says was not listed in the senator’s campaign finance reports. The group also charges in the complaint that a payment of $6,000 made to Douglas Hampton, “purportedly for vacation time, on his departure may have been a misuse of official funds. Ensign acknowledged the affair June 16. His aides said he went public because the Hamptons demanded money from him. The Hamptons identified themselves through a lawyer the next day and, in a letter to Fox News, said Ensign abused his position. “Whenever we get a complaint, we take a look at it,” said Ethics Committee spokeswoman Natalie Ravitz. But she declined to comment further.