A lawyer for Nevada Senator John Ensign says Ensign's parents gave $96,000 last year to the family of Cindy Hampton, the woman with whom the senator had an affair. Attorney Paul Coggins released a statement today saying the money was paid to Cindy, her husband Doug Hampton, and two of their children in April 2008, during the affair and around the time that Doug and Cindy Hampton left the employment of Ensign's office. Coggins says the money was in the form of individual payments of $12,000, and that it complied with all tax rules governing gifts. In addition, Coggins states: "None of the gifts came from campaign or official funds nor were they related to any campaign or official duties. Senator Ensign has complied with all applicable laws and Senate ethics rules."
Earlier today, U.S. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) denied Doug Hampton's allegation that Coburn encouraged Ensign to pay off the Hamptons when learning of the affair. Coburn acknowledges counseling Ensign as a doctor and a friend during the affair, but told reporters in Washington today that he "never made any assessment of paying anybody anything," according to Politico. Coburn called Doug Hampton's allegations "absolute untruths," and said Hampton is "manipulating the situation."
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