Republican Sen. John Ensign Of Nevada To Resign (Update)

by Frances Martel | 6:26 pm, April 21st, 2011

» 41 comments

Congressional publication Roll Call is reporting that Sen. John Ensign is planning on resigning tomorrow. Sen. Ensign is an embattled Nevada Republican best known for carrying on an affair with the wife of his former top aide, an affair which indirectly resulted in Sen. Ensign’s parents paying said wife a sum of money.

Ensign had already announced in March that he would be retiring from the Senate, noting that a run for reelection in 2012 would result in an “exceptionally ugly” campaign against him, and that “there are consequences to sin.” He is, however, expected to step down and allow for Nevada governor Brian Sandoval to appoint someone to replace him, rather than waiting for his term to end.

Update: Sen. Ensign has released an official statement negating rumors that he will leave office tomorrow. Instead, the statement notes that Ensign has already handed in his resignation to Vice President Joe Biden, and that it will be effective beginning May 3. The full statement below:

Washington, D.C. – Senator John Ensign today announced his resignation as the 24th United States Senator from the state of Nevada. In a letter to Vice President Joe Biden tomorrow, Senator Ensign will state that his resignation from office is effective as of May 3, 2011.

“It is with tremendous sadness that I officially hand over the Senate seat that I have held for eleven years,” said Ensign. “The turbulence of these last few years is greatly surpassed by the incredible privilege that I feel to have been entrusted to serve the people of Nevada. I can honestly say that being a United States Senator has been the honor of my life.

“I know that my staff has been devoted to helping those in our state when they needed our assistance the most, and I hope that this will be the enduring legacy that we leave behind. As I close the door to this chapter of my life, I am left with memories that I will forever treasure. Traveling across our state during the years, I have heard incredible stories of strength, of struggle, and of compassion. I have met people who have forever changed me, and I can say that I will go through life a better person because of the struggle that I have been through and the support that I have received.

“While I stand behind my firm belief that I have not violated any law, rule, or standard of conduct of the Senate, and I have fought to prove this publicly, I will not continue to subject my family, my constituents, or the Senate to any further rounds of investigation, depositions, drawn out proceedings, or especially public hearings. For my family and me, this continued personal cost is simply too great.

“I am gratified that, after extended investigations, both the Department of Justice and the Federal Election Commission saw no grounds on which to charge me with improper conduct. I was hopeful that, with the closure of these investigations against me the wear and tear on my family and me would soon be over. This was not the case.

“As is its right, the Senate Ethics Committee is continuing its investigation of issues into which it has been inquiring for the past year and a half. Indeed, the Committee even decided recently to devote more resources to its investigation by hiring an outside counsel even though the issues have been viewed and reviewed by so many others.

“I came to office with the pledge to make this country a better place, but that pledge does not end with my resignation. I will continue to fight for a better country and for a future that our children deserve. I cannot fully express what serving the people of Nevada has meant to me, but I will try to repay them for their trust for the rest of my life.

“To the people of Nevada, I humbly say thank you for what you have given to me through the years. To my family, thank you for the support and love that you have shown me. To my staff, thank you for coming on this incredible journey with me and for standing by me despite the obstacles.”

Congress, John Ensign, Nevada, Roll Call, senate

The Lantern of Truth

Good .
TangledThorns

Heh, he should just go Democrat. Oh yes I did!!
Chudi

Good. Banging the wife of a subordinate should have consequences. If he wanted sex that much, he should have gone to an escort. That I don’t care about, cus that’s between him and his wife.
George C

Good riddance .
Color Me Badd

Tee Hee. Another Family Values Republican goes down!
illusive man

“Breaking: Republican Sen. John Ensign Of Nevada To Resign”

Good, Ensign is unwanted and he will be forgotten.
Color Me Badd

illusive man said:
“Breaking: Republican Sen. John Ensign Of Nevada To Resign”

Good, Ensign is unwanted and he will be forgotten.

When are you guys gonna get rid of that diaper wearing perv. David Vitter? Tee Hee.
http://www.swissarmyjew.com Keeva

About time this sleaze stepped down. This kind of stuff is another bipartisan thing. Both sides do it. In this case, it just happens to be a Republican in the leadership.

Well, that is one gone and only 533 left.
http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

Is this the guy with the wide stance?
david r

Publius219 said:
Is this the guy with the wide stance?

No, this is the one who diddled his best friend’s wife, then tried to buy their silence.
illusive man

Color Me Badd said:
When are you guys gonna get rid of that diaper wearing perv. David Vitter? Tee Hee.

Right after we get rid of Obama. Tee Diddly Dee.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Victoria-Sallese/703324932 Victoria Sallese

What took so fucking long, you jackass?
ProObamaAgenda

hahaha….the wheels of justice are starting to churn a little faster now…..Obama is gonna prosecute the shit out all the criminal ass wingnuts in washington and on wall st…..the only thing you repukes understand is orange jumpsuits and prison cells……today he said hes going after the gas price gougers including the speculators….watch those prices start coming down next week……….OBAMA IS TIRED OF YOUR BULLSHIT…..ITS JAIL TIME YOU FOR YOU THIEVING ASS PIPE BOMB SETTING ASSWIPES
ProObamaAgenda

WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK !!!!!!!…..AND OBAMA COMING AFTER IT…..JUST LIKE HE SAID HE WOULD
The Lantern of Truth

ProObamaAgenda said:
he said hes going after the gas price gougers including the speculators….watch those prices start coming down

Obama is a demagogue . If you believe him , you are a fool . And I don’t pity you .
namseer

ProObamaAgenda said:
..the only thing you repukes understand is orange jumpsuits and prison cells…

AMEN! Now we have someone stating the bare bones TRUTH on here. The only way Republicans learn a lesson is when they are doing hard time and taking it fast and hard in the big house. We need to keep the pressure on Republican crooks and creeps and get their butts out out of Congress and under Big Bubba in 2012!
jim bronson 990cc

The Lantern of Truth said:
Obama is a demagogue . If you believe him , you are a fool . And I don’t pity you .

As if anyone desires your pity. Especially given the Latern of Falsehood’s pitiful nature!
The Lantern of Truth

jim bronson 990cc said:
As if anyone desires your pity. Especially given the Latern of Falsehood’s pitiful nature!

Hang in there , Bronson , while you’re goin’ down that long lonesome highway .
jim bronson 990cc

The Lantern of Truth said:
Hang in there , Bronson , while you’re goin’ down that long lonesome highway .

Wow, a meaningless response. Like so many of LOF’s other posts!
tatboy

Color Me Badd said:
Tee Hee. Another Family Values Republican goes down!

Kinda like those “Family Values” Dems… right??? Want me to name a few. One in the 80′s and 90′s was a child rapist… and got a standing ovation from his fellow Dems (Including Ted) upon his return after raping the girl. Can you name that man???
tatboy

PS… don’t let the door his you in the butt on the way out Ensign.
jim bronson 990cc

tatboy said:
Kinda like those “Family Values” Dems… right??? Want me to name a few. One in the 80’s and 90’s was a child rapist… and got a standing ovation from his fellow Dems (Including Ted) upon his return after raping the girl. Can you name that man???

I see that and raise you a Foley!
Tedderman

And thus is answered the question: When does a disgraced republican develop a conscience?
Barack Must Go

Ensign is a scum bag and should have either resigned or been forced out when his unacceptable behavior was first made public. Sometimes a POS like him seems to just fall thru the cracks, which is also unacceptable.

If he actually broke any laws, he must be prosecuted to the fullest extent OF those laws. Good ridence.
namseer

Don’t try to pull the “family values” Democrats business. It is always REPUBLICAN DEMAGOGUES who run on “family values” platforms who end up in the middle of committing adultery and being involved in prostitution rings and having diaper wearing fetishes. Democrats have their scandals, but no breed of politician is more HYPOCRITICAL than the “Values Familia Republihypocrit”. Also known more commonly as the “scumbag Republican politician”.
cjd ohio 1

Keeva said:
About time this sleaze stepped down. This kind of stuff is another bipartisan thing. Both sides do it. In this case, it just happens to be a Republican in the leadership. Well, that is one gone and only 533 left.

aces
tatboy

jim bronson 990cc said:
I see that and raise you a Foley!

Foley raped someone??? I didn’t know that… link please. And I raise you a Frank (do I need to list them all).
jim bronson 990cc

tatboy said:
Foley raped someone??? I didn’t know that… link please. And I raise you a Frank (do I need to list them all).

Are we speaking statutorially? I raise you a Kevin Garn.
tatboy

namseer said:
Don’t try to pull the “family values” Democrats business. It is always REPUBLICAN DEMAGOGUES who run on “family values” platforms who end up in the middle of committing adultery and being involved in prostitution rings and having diaper wearing fetishes. Democrats have their scandals, but no breed of politician is more HYPOCRITICAL than the “Values Familia Republihypocrit”. Also known more commonly as the “scumbag Republican politician”.

So it’s hypocracy that upsets you hugh??? Want to guess the size of Al Gore’s carbon footprint then buddy??? Hypocracy knows no bounds or party. If you are going to stand there and defend Dems you will get humiliated.
tatboy

jim bronson 990cc said:
Are we speaking statutorially? I raise you a Kevin Garn.

Good one….had to Google him. At least he got what he deserved and not a standing ovation by his party. I have no defence of him. So were on the same page. Dems and Repubs BOTh rape and are scum that DON’T deserve standing ovations when they rape.
jim bronson 990cc

tatboy said:
Good one….had to Google him. At least he got what he deserved and not a standing ovation by his party. I have no defence of him. So were on the same page. Dems and Repubs BOTh rape and are scum that DON’T deserve standing ovations when they rape.

Absolutely! I still think Vitter should be gone, but anyone who does these things is wrong. Are you on board with that?
tatboy

jim bronson 990cc said:
Absolutely! I still think Vitter should be gone, but anyone who does these things is wrong. Are you on board with that?

Hell ya I am… they work for us. It should be a privlage that they earn and continue to earn. Violate the laws of human decency that much and you have to go. Period.
david r

Color Me Badd said:
When are you guys gonna get rid of that diaper wearing perv. David Vitter? Tee Hee.

You must’ve missed my earlier post on another thread. I said I’d known many “Badd” dudes over the years, but can’t remember a single one who said “Tee Hee.” You can keep the “Tee Hee” if you like, but you ought to give up the “Badd.” Just doesn’t work.
http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

david r said:
No, this is the one who diddled his best friend’s wife, then tried to buy their silence.

Haha, I knew that. I just like bringing up Larry Craig as often as possible. Funniest scandal ever.
tatboy

Publius219 said:
Haha, I knew that. I just like bringing up Larry Craig as often as possible. Funniest scandal ever.

I like the Frank one myself. Selling underage boys… Now THAT’S funny. :)
Barack Must Go

namseer said:
Don’t try to pull the “family values” Democrats business. It is always REPUBLICAN DEMAGOGUES who run on “family values” platforms who end up in the middle of committing adultery and being involved in prostitution rings and having diaper wearing fetishes. Democrats have their scandals, but no breed of politician is more HYPOCRITICAL than the “Values Familia Republihypocrit”. Also known more commonly as the “scumbag Republican politician”.

This is really no different than officer Joe that spends his days in schools telling kuds to stay away from drugs, then goes home and smokes a joint while downing a pint of Jack.

It’s their job to champion the causes and needs of the people they represent, not law that they must live the same life himself.

The problem with this dirtbag is the cover up & pay off ( possibly illegal ) that makes what he did rise to a level where he loses his job.
Color Me Badd

In this Congress, number of GOPers to resign in disgrace (2) vs. number of major bills passed (0)

Tee Hee.
Color Me Badd

Publius219 said:
Haha, I knew that. I just like bringing up Larry Craig as often as possible. Funniest scandal ever.

Larry Craig does not troll for BJ’s in public bathrooms, he has a wide stance, he is a fairly wide guy.
Color Me Badd

illusive man said:
Right after we get rid of Obama. Tee Diddly Dee.

When did Obama get serviced by a prostitute while wearing an adult diaper? That was a Republican that did that.
Nachi

Christian Family Values reign supreme once more!
Tedderman

As is always the case the CONservative posters here attempt to draw some moral equivalency where none exists. As if somehow two wrongs make a right, well perhaps, a right…..leaning politician