Ensign's office says he's no longer target of federal investigation

[sabra]

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) - Senator John Ensign's office says he's been told he's no longer a target of a federal grand jury investigation into whether he violated the law in an effort to cover up an affair he had with the wife of a former aide.

The two-term Republican admitted in June to an extramarital affair with Cindy Hampton, his onetime campaign treasurer. She is the wife of top aide Doug Hampton.

Ensign and his family were longtime friends with the Hamptons. Doug Hampton has given interviews stating his family has received money and employment offers from Ensign after he and his wife left the Senate staff in April 2008. Ensign admitted his parents gave the Hamptons $96,000 but said the money was a gift, not an effort to suppress word of the affair.

In a statement, Ensign's lawyer, Paul Coggins, said "The Department of Justice has informed us that Senator Ensign is no longer a target of its investigation and that it has no plans to bring any charges against him in this matter. The Federal Election Commission and the Justice Department have reached the right result on the baseless allegations made against him, and we look forward to the Ethics Committee reaching the same conclusion soon."

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/01/ensigns-office-says-hes-no-longer-target-of-federal-investigation/

[Zoeisright]

1. So is this a lie or did he pay somebody off?

Because he sure as fuck is guilty.

[24601]

7. Tell us, how long have you known everying involved in this case,

or has all your information come from the press and INTERNET?

And no - in America, NOBODY is guilty until that is judged in court. Not even the poor misundersood Somalia-born US Cit who recently has gained fame in Portland.

[HereSince1628]

2. Target, person of interest...it only matters to PR managers

the grand jury and the prosecution don't need give a title to a person associated with information under review prior to an indictment. Didn't we learn that during Plamegate?

[OnyxCollie]

3. IOKIYAR. nt

[blackspade]

4. Holder strikes again.

The Justice Department is a joke if you are rich, well connected, a torturer, and a republican.
If you are poor, a minority, a progressive democrat (hell, a progressive anything), or one of the 'little people', well then you are a target for the DoJ!

[saigon68]

5. Ah yes also Diaper Man Vitter

[SoapBox]

6. Outrageous...and simply criminal.