LAS VEGAS -- The Senate Ethics Committee's investigation into former Sen. John Ensign found that Ensign broke federal law.
Leaders of the Senate Ethics Committee released the scathing report Thursday saying they were sending the information to the Department of Justice for further investigation.
Committee chairman Barbara Boxer told the Senate in a speech, "When Sen. Ensign resigned he said and I quote, 'I have not violated any law, rule or standard of conduct.' I want to go on record ... to say how strongly I disagree with that statement."
In a letter to the Department of Justice, the Committee referred to the following as violations of law that were committed by Ensign and others.
- aided and abetted violations of the one-year post-employment contact restriction
- conspired to violate that restriction
- made false statements to the Federal Election Commission
- violated campaign finance laws
- obstructed the Committee's preliminary inquiry
Special Counsel's Report
Letter to the Dept. of Justice
Letter of Referral to FEC
Letter from Sen. Ensign's lawyer
The committee cannot punish Ensign because it can only discipline senators currently serving. Ensign quit his seat effective May 3, one day before he was to have testified under oath about an affair with Cindy Hampton, the wife of Doug Hampton, a top aide. He would have also had to testify about the aide's subsequent lobbying of his office and a $96,000 payment from his parents to the Hampton family.
Boxer said the entire saga should be a cautionary tale to other senators.
