Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


21

Ensign: My Affair Wasn't 'Legally Wrong'

Share

(AP) – John Ensign says that his affair with a friend's wife was different than former President Bill Clinton's relationship with a White House intern because he didn't lie under oath. "I haven't done anything legally wrong," the Nevada GOP senator said. "President Clinton stood right before the American people and he lied to the American people."

"Isn't that a little like saying, 'It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is?'" scoffed one ethics expert. In his first home-state appearance yesterday since admitting an extramarital affair with former campaign aide Cynthia Hampton, Ensign told the AP he can understand how some people might "have a problem" with the fact he called for Clinton's resignation but won't resign himself. "What we're trying to do is go around to people in the state of Nevada and tell them how sorry I am for what I did," Ensign told the AP.

I was in the House of Representatives but basically sitting in judgment of the president evaluating the case. I was basically a jurist at that point. I thought there was a violation of a felony. - Sen. John Ensign on Bill Clinton's affair

Isn't that a little like saying, 'It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is?' One politician comparing his illicit affair to another's is a sure sign his career is in trouble. - Melanie Sloan, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
21 comments
VIEWING:
 
Derni
Aug 20, 09 5:54 AM CDT
These guys are a joke-they can run around having sex and doing other things in the "dark" but then they want to pass family moral laws and control us-get a life and an education Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+12
oldgoat
Aug 20, 09 6:10 AM CDT
In the first place Clinton shouldn't have ever had to testify about any affair. In the 2nd place Ensign and his SC buddy were the moral talking heads that carried on about morals and the vows of marriage. Evidently the C street teachings are different than what I was taught in church. However I do believe that the payoffs to his mistress is illegal. If the right wants to condemn Clinton then they need to do the same and expect the Congressment to do what they said Clinton should have done. I guess it is easier to tell others what to do until you are the one that is caught doing the same thing. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+13
IN RESPONSE:
John
Aug 20, 09 8:58 AM CDT
And don't forget Vitter
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
jemikeos
Aug 20, 09 6:11 AM CDT
What a Bozo. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+6
gabo
Aug 20, 09 6:18 AM CDT
Legally, okay. Morally, bankrupt. That shortens his message without losing his point. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+10
LEAVE A
COMMENT
Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Copyright 2009 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.