CREW Seeks to Uncover Why DOJ Dropped the Ball on Ensign Scandal
Why did the Department of Justice (DOJ) decline to prosecute Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)? It's a question to which the American people deserve an answer. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the DOJ and the FBI seeking documents from the government's investigation that would answer why Sen. Ensign was not criminally prosecuted, despite clear evidence he violated the law.
"It is unbelievable that with the wealth of evidence against Mr. Ensign, the DOJ dropped the investigation," said CREW Chief Counsel Anne Weismann. "This is just the latest in a long line of slam dunk cases against crooked politicians that the DOJ has declined to prosecute. One must certainly wonder what a politician has to do to be charged."
In June 2009, Sen. Ensign announced he had engaged in an affair with a former campaign staff member, Cindy Hampton. Her husband, Doug Hampton, was a close friend of Sen. Ensign and his former chief of staff. Starting in early 2008, Sen. Ensign took a series of actions designed to control the fallout from the affair. Among other things, Sen. Ensign helped Mr. Hampton establish a lobbying practice, lined up clients to pay Mr. Hampton enough to match his former Senate salary, and later contacted federal officials on behalf of some of Mr. Hampton's new clients. Sen. Ensign and his family also provided the Hamptons with questionable gifts and severance payments, including a $96,000 gift from Sen. Ensign's parents.
Collectively, these actions indicate the senator committed criminal campaign finance law violations as well as conspiracy to violate the post-employment lobbying restrictions.
Click here to read CREW's FOIA request to the DOJ.
Click here to read CREW's FOIA request to the FBI.
Click here to read CREW's letter to the Executive Office, United States Attorneys.
Click here to read CREW's FOIA exhibits.
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