Press

PRESS

August 13, 2010

CREW Responds to Senator Ensign’s Fundraising Letter

Senate Ethics, Press Releases, Senate Members, John Ensign

Senator John Ensign

Washington, D.C. - In response to Senator John Ensign (R-NV) soliciting money for his legal defense fund by blaming Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) for his troubles, CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan released the following statement:

“Senator Ensign had an extended affair with a campaign staffer, who happened to be married to his chief of staff Doug Hampton, fired them both, and had his parents pay them off without properly reporting it to the Federal Election Commission. He then conspired to help Mr. Hampton to set up a lobbying business to lobby his own office, in violation of federal law. So what exactly are the things that Senator Ensign is being accused of that he did not do?"

"The case against Senator Ensign has nothing to do with the fact that he’s a Republican, and everything to do with the fact that he’s corrupt. Much like CREW has called for Congressman Charles Rangel to step down it’s time for Senator Ensign to look in the mirror, stop blaming other people, finally take responsibly for his actions, and resign.”

Click here (PDF) to read Sen. Ensign's fundraising solicitation letter on LVRJ.com.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a non-profit legal watchdog group dedicated to holding public officials accountable for their actions. For more information, please visit www.citizensforethics.org or contact David Merchant at 202.408.5565 or dmerchant@citizensforethics.org