Hanging out their dirty Washington
October 1st 2009 23:56
US Senator John Naughty Boy Ensign
Sex scandals have been around almost as long as politicians, and American Senator John Ensign has just added his name to a long list of parliamentarians who followed elect with erect.
The senator, one of those curious Americans known as conservative Christians, spent considerable time and energy last year helping out a senior member of his staff who had decided to quit the bright lights of politics and go home to Nevada. His name is Douglas Hampton and Senator Ensign rang political and corporate supporters trying to find a job for him.
“He’s a competent guy, and he’s looking to come back to Nevada. Do you know of anything?” he reportedly asked.
Eventually a political consulting firm said yes, and Hampton went to work as a lobbyist.
This story first hit the news a little later when it was revealed that Senator Ensign was further helping his old mate by peddling the interests of Hampton's new clients around Washington. This was thought to be in violation of a law that bans senior aides from lobbying the Senate for a year after leaving their posts.
Of course, politicians serving their own interests by bending the rules they are elected in good faith to uphold is hardly front page news, but the John Ensign story had a salacious twist.
Douglas Hampton's wife, Cynthia, also worked for the Senator, in more ways than one. Apart from her day job in the office, it has now been revealed that she did plenty of unpaid overtime. Or should that be under time?
Reports now say the relationship between Douglas Hampton and John Ensign has ended in bitterness and recriminations. Because the politician was having an affair with his wife? No, because Hampton apparently grew increasingly frustrated about his financial situation, believing that the senator had reneged on a deal to find him enough clients to sustain his income.
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