Tom Coburn knew of John Ensign's affair (recommended paying her off)

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

Sen. Tom Coburn knew more than a year ago that his Republican colleague John Ensign was having an affair with a staffer – and he reportedly urged Ensign to end the relationship and pay a substantial sum of money to the staffer and her husband.

Doug Hampton – the husband of Ensign’s mistress – told Las Vegas Sun columnist Jon Ralston Wednesday that Coburn and others had urged Ensign to give the couple “millions of dollars” so that they could pay off their mortgage and move away from Ensign’s hometown of Las Vegas.

Asked about that allegation Wednesday, Coburn’s office confirmed that the he knew about Ensign’s affair and had urged him to end it.

“Dr. Coburn did everything he could to encourage Sen. Ensign to end his affair and to persuade Sen. Ensign to repair the damage he had caused to his own marriage and the Hampton’s marriage,” Coburn’s office said in a remarkable public rebuke of his friend and fellow Christian conservative. “Had Sen. Ensign followed Dr. Coburn’s advice, this episode would have ended, and been made public, long ago.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/24706.html

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Can't say I remember this coming up at the RNC convention...

Someone needs to give Michael Steele a lantern, so he can walk the land in search of an honest Republican...

[alcibiades_mystery]

1. The Upright Christians

:wow:

Dr. Slush Fund

[femmocrat]

2. Can we knock off two with one stone?

And get rid of both of them? That would be sweet.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. What is it called when a man pays a woman for sex?

Micturition?

Maturation?

Masturbation?

Pasteurization?

Preservation?

Prostitution?

One of them -ation words, ain't it?

[freeplessinseattle]

4. as Charlie Sheen says, "you pay them to leave" eom

[Cha]

5. He wouldn't be starting with himself.

"Someone needs to give Michael Steele a lantern, so he can walk the land in search of an honest Republican..."

[Third Doctor]

6. Gawd

I love this stuff the more this of this crap that comes out tue more the GOP is discredited with thinking people.

[Fumesucker]

11. Wasn't it Adlai Stevenson who replied to a woman..

Who called out "you have the vote of every thinking person" with: "That's not enough madam, we need a majority"?

[No Elephants]

18. Thinking people do not turn to the GOP for moraliy, but for corporate welfare and

low taxes for the rich. They are those in this country who are both very wealthy and very greedy. They personally could give a rat's tail about choice, gay marriage, or who is sleeping with whom. They are all about the money.

Non thinking people have been ginned into thinking the GOP is the party of patriotism, morality, family values, etc., while the Democrats are evil because that myth is all that the GOP offers people who are not very wealthy.

So, the more stuff like this comes out, the more the GOP might be discredited with non-thinking people--but don't bet it on it bc well, they are non-thinking people.

[pbrower2a]

7. Defeat Coburn!

Could this scandal also bring down one of the most Hard-Right Senators? That would be rich!

Suggesting that someone pay off a mistress, perhaps hiding some official misconduct by another person, is itself <i>obstruction of justice</i> if not a part of a conspiracy to commit bribery.

As the two Senators from Oklahoma are two of the worst GOP senators politically, it is hard to see how the downfall of Coburn would be anything other than an improvement.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

8. Welcom to DU!

Fyi, DU uses the < > to mark up the posts, instead of the < >. That is why your <i> did not work.

And I like the way you think, Re those 2 Oklahoma senators.

[Divine Discontent]

9. GOOD GRIEF! really? this smacks of everything a good moral guy wouldn't advocate!

he'd tell him to ask for forgiveness to his wife, then the lady he had an affair with, and if she threatened to come out with it, go immediately to the press and say he made a mistake, asked for forgiveness and is moving on, but no --- these asswipes say, "pay her off to shut up!"....

nice!

[aquart]

10. Where was the money to come from?

[yellowcanine]

14. Just one of several questions that need to be answered before this goes away.

[kestrel91316]

17. Ensign is a member of a BIG Vegas money family, casino owners.

[TankLV]

12. WE already knew he was just ANOTHER repuke HYPOCRITE - it's just GREAT that the rest of the world

is getting to know these ASSHOLES as WE have...!!!

[yellowcanine]

13. 'Coburn "categorically denies" Hampton's claim that he urged Ensign to pay millions to the couple.'

So it is Coburn's word (and Ensign's word) against Hampton's word. Not a good place to be for Coburn. Hampton is the wronged husband here and Coburn is on the side of the philanderer. Ouch. This could land Coburn in trouble with the Senate ethics committee.

[damntexdem]

15. Well OK; but I'm sure that he wanted her paid off in a good Christian manner.

Just as the adultery was undoubtedly conducted in a good Christian manner.

[guitar man]

16. Sounds like Coburn

Has a little experience at this. Let's rattle his closet good and hard and see what falls out. I'd like to see him and Inhofe gone...they are an embarrassment to this state ...