Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Ensign: I Won't Quit, and I'll Run Again

Disgraced senator says supporters don't want him to resign

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 14, 2009 1:30 PM CDT

(Newser) – Sen. John Ensign says he’ll stick with his job and run for reelection despite news of his affair and his parents’ $96,000 payment to his mistress’ family, the Las Vegas Sun reports. The Republican says his supporters are telling him he shouldn’t resign, and “I fully plan on running for reelection,” he says. “I’m going to work to earn their respect back.”

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., talks with reporters June 22, 2009, on Capitol Hill. (AP Photo)

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., leaves the Republican Policy luncheon on Capitol Hill, June 23, 2009. (AP Photo)

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev. speaks at a news conference June 16, 2009, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Men Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Which Entertainer Pulled Out of 'Inappropriate' Whitney Tribute? (NewsOne)

The French Government Wants to Tone My Vagina (Slate)

Obama Photo on Facebook Helps Catch Drug Dealer (HuffPost)

Hottest Women to Ever Appear in the SI Swimsuit Issue (Bleacher Report)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 9 comments

lindamae

Jul 15, 2009 5:04 AM CDT

Ho hum. Another personal relationship being spun by the media. I'd warn any Republican to run the other way if some cutie suddenly starts flirting. You can bet that the Dem. NC is not too far behind. We don't have the right to demand anything of our elected officials in regard to their sexual lives. Sorry. BUT, we should hold them accountable for their public lives: as in Geitner - the tax cheat who also lied and signed an affidavit that he had paid the taxes for which he had been reimbursed - but didn't pay. Isn't that fraud? Felony? He should be in jail - but since Obama loves him. he's been excused. We have the right to demand ethical behavior in public cases but in private, we need to keep our noses out of it. Europeans just think we are so silly to get so uptight about sex. It is - and has been - so normal and usual for men and women to have mistresses and lovers in many European countries that it is not an issue like we make it.

Yourself

Jul 15, 2009 3:24 AM CDT

i can't wait to see him get SLAMMED in our state elections. he's gonna lose so bad he's gonna cry on mommy and daddy's shoulders on national tv... "but you said you'd buy me the job again!!"

SBS

Jul 14, 2009 10:09 AM CDT

The worst part, he'll probably get reelected.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rick Santorum: Birth Control Is 'Not OK'

Valentine's Day Role-Playing Goes Very Wrong

Las Vegas Sun (Source Grid »)

Politics

Senate • Senate Republicans • resignation • affair • John Ensign • political scandal • scandal • senator • re-election

More Newser Stories

Ensign Inquiry Will Go On

Senate ethics panel makes unusual move to continue after resignation

(NEWSER) - John Ensign may have quit to avoid further scrutiny of his peccadilloes, but the Senate ethics investigation into his affair with a campaign staffer will go on, reports the Washington Post. “Senator Ensign has made the appropriate decision," said a statement from Sens. Barbara Boxer and Johnny Isakson, who are leading the inquiry. However, “The Senate Ethics Committee has worked diligently for 22 months on this matter and will complete its work in a timely fashion." Ensign will step down May 3, notes Politico, a day before he was to be deposed. More»

27% of Senate Press Releases Taunt Other Side

Professor analyzes writings, finds lots of name calling

(NEWSER) - This could explain why Congress is having such a hard time agreeing on a budget: Its members are too busy taunting one another. A Harvard professor analyzed the writings of Congress members, and found that about 27% of the time, they're just insulting each other. “It’s jarring and surprising,” he tells the Washington Post . "The entire government may go bankrupt, I guess. This week, right? We probably want our representatives to be listening to each other rather than calling each other names." More»

Scandal-Scarred John Ensign to Retire

In wake of scandal, senator ducks reelection fight

(NEWSER) - John Ensign will announce that he is not running for reelection in 2012 at an afternoon press conference in Las Vegas, sources tell Roll Call . Republicans have been leaning on the Nevada senator to retire, on the assumption that his much-discussed extramarital dalliances would prove a distraction. Rep. Dean Heller had signaled that he might challenge Ensign in a primary, and he's now expected to run for the seat. More»

Emails: Ensign Pulled Strings for Lover's Husband

Evidence mounts that Ensign may have crossed ethics lines

(NEWSER) - John Ensign tried to get a Las Vegas energy firm to hire his lover's husband as a lobbyist, according to new emails making the rounds at the FBI and a Senate ethics panel. The emails, which a source passed off to the New York Times , represent the first written evidence that Ensign tried to steer work to Douglas Hampton, a former top aide, and seem to belie Ensign’s insistence that he didn’t know the jobs would involve lobbying. More»

Bunning Cuts Deal, Ends Jobless Filibuster

Benefits will be extended a month; senator can offer amendment

(NEWSER) - Republican Jim Bunning has agreed to end the one-man filibuster that’s cut unemployment and other benefits to thousands of workers, making a deal with the Senate leaders of both parties tonight. Roll Call reports that Bunning will support a one-month extension of the benefits in return for the Senate voting on his amendment on how to pay for it. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Ensign: I Won't Quit, and I'll Run Again

Disgraced senator says supporters don't want him to resign

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Senate • Senate Republicans • resignation • affair • John Ensign • political scandal • scandal • senator • re-election

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Ensign Inquiry Will Go On

Senate ethics panel makes unusual move to continue after resignation

27% of Senate Press Releases Taunt Other Side

Professor analyzes writings, finds lots of name calling

Scandal-Scarred John Ensign to Retire

In wake of scandal, senator ducks reelection fight

Emails: Ensign Pulled Strings for Lover's Husband

Evidence mounts that Ensign may have crossed ethics lines

Bunning Cuts Deal, Ends Jobless Filibuster

Benefits will be extended a month; senator can offer amendment

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Ensign: I Won't Quit, and I'll Run Again

Disgraced senator says supporters don't want him to resign

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Senate • Senate Republicans • resignation • affair • John Ensign • political scandal • scandal • senator • re-election

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Ensign Inquiry Will Go On

Senate ethics panel makes unusual move to continue after resignation

27% of Senate Press Releases Taunt Other Side

Professor analyzes writings, finds lots of name calling

Scandal-Scarred John Ensign to Retire

In wake of scandal, senator ducks reelection fight

Emails: Ensign Pulled Strings for Lover's Husband

Evidence mounts that Ensign may have crossed ethics lines

Bunning Cuts Deal, Ends Jobless Filibuster

Benefits will be extended a month; senator can offer amendment

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?