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Oklahoma senator turns over e-mails in Ensign probe
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TESTING POSSIBLE RUN FOR RE-ELECTION
Sen. John Ensign
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Sen. Tom Coburn NEVADA SENATORS FORMER ROOMMATE
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU
Updated: Jul. 24, 2010 | 8:22 a.m.
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., has handed over e-mails to authorities investigating criminal misconduct allegations against Sen. John Ensign, a spokesman confirmed Friday.
Coburn was a former roommate with Ensign at a Christian group house on Capitol Hill and served as an intermediary for a period in 2008 between the Nevada Republican and Doug Hampton, the husband of Ensign's mistress at the time.
Spokesman John Hart confirmed that Coburn turned over e-mails in response to a request by the Justice Department, which is conducting a probe of Ensign's extramarital affair and allegations of efforts that covered it up for a time.
"Dr. Coburn has always said he will gladly cooperate with any official inquiry into the matter as he is doing now," Hart said.
Coburn's cooperation is the latest sign that the Justice Department's Office of Public Integrity is moving forward with the investigation, which has darkened Ensign's reputation and raised questions about his political future.
Ensign has denied any wrongdoing, and has been testing the waters for a possible re-election campaign in 2012.
After the Ensign affair was revealed in June 2009, Coburn initially said he would claim privilege if asked about advice he had given the Nevadan about the affair. He later backed off that statement.
In a story that Politico posted to its website on Friday, the Oklahoman said he was willing to be interviewed by the FBI or the Senate Ethics Committee that is conducting a separate Ensign investigation.
"We've given them everything they wanted," Coburn told the political news site, referring to the Justice Department. He said he was not subpoenaed.
"They haven't asked for an interview -- they asked for e-mails, that's all," he said. "We got one letter, we complied and fulfilled it."
Coburn told Politico "there weren't many e-mails." He wouldn't say about how many or what was in them.
Ensign's office had no comment on Friday. In an interview on Thursday, Ensign said he was not aware of any fresh developments in the investigations.
Authorities reportedly are looking into the relationship between Ensign and Hampton, his former administrative assistant. It has been alleged they conspired to break federal lobbying laws as Ensign attempted to smooth over the aftermath of his relationship with Hampton's wife, Cindy, who worked on Ensign's political committees.
Ensign contacted several Nevada companies to line up lobbying work for Doug Hampton as he was leaving the senator's Capitol Hill staff, and reportedly directed several other staffers to help Hampton in his new career. Federal law prohibits senior aides from lobbying the Senate for a year after leaving.
Investigators also are looking into other aspects, including a $96,000 check that Ensign's parents gave the Hamptons as they left Ensign. Also, several Nevada paycard companies have been subpoenaed as to whether Ensign may have offered to help them on a federal matter in return for campaign contributions.
Coburn and Ensign were among a small group of lawmakers who lived at the "C Street" house that was owned by a church-connected organization in back of the Library of Congress. Ensign since has moved.
Coburn has acknowledged being approached by Hampton in 2008, as he was trying to get Ensign to end the relationship with his wife. The Oklahoma senator discussed his involvement in a November 2009 interview on ABC-TV that was also referenced by Politico.
Coburn told interviewer George Stephanopoulos his goal was "to bring two families to a closure of a very painful episode." He denied being involved in any negotiations between Ensign and Hampton.
Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.
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When an Elected Official(Ensign)offers and pledges help to a constituent with MSHA faulty oversight and a cover-up of timely reported safety violations, the elected official(Ensign)has a duty to constituent to honor his pledge regardless of the close relationship to mining lobby interests and their dollars that flow into Elected Official campaign funds. Senator Ensign has failed constituent and all Nevadans with hypocrisy, unfaithful discharge of duty and failure to deliver. It would take a complete lack of common sense to believe that Nevada constituients deserve anything less than honest and ethical Elected Official's to represent all Nevadans.
PRupp B125 SP NV 89047
When an Elected Official(Ensign)offers and pledges help to a constituent with MSHA faulty oversight and coverup,
Sharron Angle addressed a conservative convention at the Venetian casino this afternoon. During her less-than-10-minute speech she said "I've never said I want to eliminate, I always said I want to save Social Security by paying back. But to do that we have to cut back," Angle told the crowd.
Of course, it takes just a few seconds to find video of Angle's now-famed quote on Nevada's "Face to Face" television show that, "We need to phase Medicare and Social Security out in favor of something privatized."
All of us as perfect as we think we are have made a mistake or two.
Ensign made a very stupid mistake. But he is by far the only leader in Nevada that has any common sense on the issues. The Democracts realize that; and that is why they will not let his personal mistake go. Unfortuately a lot of common sense hard working conservatives buy into it and won't forgive his personal mistake either. The left wing we love more than anything to get rid of a strong well spoken conservative.
As a Nevadan that voted for Ensign, I feel sick whenever the Senators name or picture is in the news. The Senator does not honor his pledges to constituents let alone his family or friends.
Lets hope all the trash in both parties of our gov is thrown out soon. Senator Ensign Stinks!
Cuff him Dano.
Mommy's Lil' Johnnie was once a veterinarian but even a dog won't trust him again after the naughty shenanigans he pulled with his ex-best friend's wife____dude is as hypocritical as airport toe-tapper Larry "I'm Straight! Look, I Even Have a Wife!" Craig____on the other hand, Republican Jesus has forgiven him and donated to his re-election campaign as well____LOL!____what an idiot____
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told CNSNews that he will not be coming to Nevada to campaign on behalf of Sharron Angle before the November General Election.
A senior Republican aide for McConnell told CNSNews, “He’s helping Republicans all over the map, but he’s not going to Nevada,” when he was asked if McConnell was going to campaign on behalf of Reid's Republican opponent.
"Mad American wrote on July 24, 2010 11:48 AM: Boy - with friends/roommates like Coburn - who needs enemies??? A CHRISTIAN group, huh?!? Real Christian to stab your friend in the back and help throw him under the bus."
Thou shall not lie.
Uh oh!____Mommie's lil' Johnnie make big big booboo and now he has to go to bed early without supper or bedtime story___uh oh!___Not fair! Not fair!____Mommie's lil' Johnnie is sorry he stabbed his "best friend" in the back____and then had to ask Mommie to pay hush money to cover up his boo boo____WHAT A REPUBLICAN IDIOT!____GOP loser____