WASHINGTON — Sen. Tom Coburn played a more active role than previously known in the negotiations between ex-Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) and his former aide, Doug Hampton. The extent of the Oklahoma Republican’s involvement is made clear in a report released Thursday by the Senate Ethics Committee that accuses the former senator of serious criminal violations.
Senator Ensign resigned in disgrace, under a great deal of pressure. People were led to believe that it was to save the Hamptons from having to testify before the Senate Ethics Committee and to avoid embarrassment. Now it seems that there is another reason–
Senator Tom Colburn knew much more about his friend’s infidelity and pay off to the Hamptons. According to HuffPost:
Coburn, a friend of Ensign’s who confronted him about the adultery, became involved as an intermediary in negotiations between Ensign and Doug Hampton. The former aide sought money from Ensign in spring 2009. Coburn negotiated the payment to Doug Hampton down from $8 million to about $2.8 million, according to the report.
