Wash Po-Nevada Sen. John Ensign Is Still On The Radar

photo courtesy of theearmark.com

(story reported by Carol D. Leonnig)

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said Friday that he has provided information to federal authorities investigating whether Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) broke the law in trying to keep secret his affair with a part-time staff member.

Before Ensign publicly admitted the adulterous relationship last June, Coburn had been a key behind-the-scenes counselor to Ensign. Coburn had urged his friend to end the affair with Cynthia Hampton and later tried to help him mediate the tension when her husband, a senior aide to the Nevada senator, confronted Ensign about the affair in late 2008.

Investigators are looking into whether Ensign then tried to help Doug Hampton get lobbying work, through meetings with key donors and administration officials. Such actions could violate federal laws and congressional rules that require departing congressional staff members to avoid lobbying for a year. The Justice Department has issued subpoenas seeking information to more than five Las Vegas companies tied to Ensign.

(click here to read the full story in the Washington Post)