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Marital Woes Strike Ensign's Ex-Housemate

'Christian fellowship home' in DC was also Sanford hangout

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 17, 2009 3:30 PM CDT

(Newser) – Add Chip Pickering to the list of Republicans with fidelity issues: The former congressman’s estranged wife is suing his mistress for alienation of affection—in essence, destroying the Pickerings' marriage, TPM Muckracker reports. Oddly enough, Pickering lived in a Capitol Hill home that operates as a sort of boarding house for conservative Christian congressmen, reports Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo. John Ensign lived at the "C Street facility," where Mark Sanford sought counseling.

Pickering’s affair apparently took place during the weeks he spent on the Hill when he was a congressman representing Mississippi. Some of his trysts allegedly occurred at the C Street facility. Pickering was a contender for Trent Lott’s Senate seat, but he left politics rather than running. His wife's lawsuit alleges he did so because his mistress, who he is still romantically involved with, gave him an ultimatum.

Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Miss., tells reporters that he won't run for re-election in 2008, at a news conference at state GOP headquarters in Jackson, Miss., Friday, Aug. 17, 2007.
Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Miss., tells reporters that he won't run for re-election in 2008, at a news conference at state GOP headquarters in Jackson, Miss., Friday, Aug. 17, 2007.   (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Leisha Pickering, listens as her husband, U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering, tells reporters that he won't run for re-election in 2008, at a news conference at state in Jackson, Miss., Friday, Aug. 17, 2007.
Leisha Pickering, listens as her husband, U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering, tells reporters that he won't run for re-election in 2008, at a news conference at state in Jackson, Miss., Friday, Aug. 17, 2007.   (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
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Today we have news of yet another C Streeter falling off the fidelity wagon. I mean, I don't know about their politics. But these dudes know how to party. I don't see how you get around that.
- John Marshall, Talking Points Memo

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
wwwonderer
Jul 20, 2009 4:04 AM CDT
That's exactly the point. I could care less whom my representatives sleep with or what drugs they use . I DO care about hypocrisy and fake, deceptive people. I had a gf that lied to me on a regular basis. And 90% I wasn't upset with what she did; I WAS upset about the LYING about what she did.
armywife
Jul 18, 2009 12:51 PM CDT
exactly. i dont care that they are having affairs, i dont think that affects their ability to do their job. i just mind that they run on this "family values" platform, which they clearly dont live up to themselves. they're telling me i'm a bad person for supporting gay marriage and not going to church. well, at least i'm not cheating on my spouse while i rant about protecting the 'sanctity of marriage'.
Shannonals
Jul 18, 2009 10:52 AM CDT
You can sue a mistress of your husband for alienation of affection?! Seriously, is this new? Can you imagine how many people are going to run to the court house if this is a valid suit by the court system?

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