Groups Want Ethics Probe of Ensign Affair

[struggle4progress]

CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS – CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS
June 22, 2009 – 7:56 p.m.
Groups Want Ethics Probe of Ensign Affair
By Bart Jansen, CQ Staff

... The group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington expects to file a complaint in the coming days, spokeswoman Naomi Seligman said.

Representatives of two other groups — the Campaign Legal Center and Public Citizen — said the committee should investigate even without a complaint because of the senator’s allegations that the couple later demanded hush money. The woman’s salary was doubled while she worked for Ensign’s PAC, Battle Born, and news reports have said that Ensign paid her a severance out of his own pocket. Her husband the Senate staffer also received a significant payment at the end of his tenure in Ensign’s office.

“The public does not know whether ‘hush money’ was paid or whether undeserved job opportunities were provided, but rumors and allegations raise suspicions,” said Craig Holman, a lobbyist for Public Citizen.

Meredith McGehee, policy director of the Campaign Legal Center, said the accusations are already public so they should be investigated and resolved publicly ...

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