Coburn Aiding in Justice Investigation of Ensign
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}WASHINGTON -- Sen. Tom Coburn is providing information to the Justice Department for its investigation into whether Nevada Sen. John Ensign broke the law in an attempt to keep an affair with a staff member secret, Coburn's office said Saturday.
Coburn discussed his role as counselor to the Republican Ensign in 2008 when Ensign was having an affair with Cynthia Hampton, a former campaign staffer. At the time, Coburn, R-Okla., had advised Ensign to end the affair and was seeking to mediate a dispute with Hampton's husband, Doug.
Federal authorities are trying to determine whether Ensign skirted federal rules to help Doug Hampton find lobbying work.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Justice Department has requested copies of some of Coburn's e-mails, and the senator's office said he was cooperating in providing the small number of e-mails that pertained to the probe.
Ensign's term expires in 2012.