Ensign's Ex-Lover Suggests More Details to Emerge

Nevada Sen. John Ensign's ex-lover says she did "everything possible" to keep their affair private, but a spokesman for the Republican lawmaker refuted the claim Thursday, saying the woman's husband approached a major television news channel before Ensign's public confession.

Ensign's spokesman, Tory Mazzola, told FOX News that Cindy Hampton's husband, Doug, approached a TV news outlet with information on his wife's extramarital affair. This prompted Ensign to go public with his confession, according to sources.

But in her first public statement Wednesday, Hampton said she and her family kept the affair private -- and suggested there may be more brewing behind Ensign's neat account.

Hampton and her husband, a couple Ensign has described as "close friends," issued sharp remarks through their attorney.

"It is unfortunate the senator chose to air this very personal matter, especially after the Hamptons did everything possible to keep this matter private," Las Vegas lawyer Daniel Albregts said in the statement. "It is equally unfortunate that he did so without concern for the effect such an announcement would have on the Hampton family. In time the Hamptons will be ready and willing to tell their side of the story."

Albregts declined to answer questions.

An Associated Press review of federal records showed that around the time of the affair, Cindy Hampton, 46, received a promotion and a pay raise at a political entity controlled by Ensign, and a pay raise at a second. Her husband, Doug, was an employee in Ensign's Senate office, and a golfing buddy.

Ensign and his staff have refused to comment since he admitted the affair at a hastily arranged news conference in Las Vegas on Tuesday. It remains unclear what prompted the unexpected announcement.

The disclosure resurrected questions about a two-week period in 2002 when Ensign abruptly dropped from public view. A person familiar with that episode, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said the senator told a close associate the absence followed an earlier affair.

Ensign, in his second term, has said he intends to remain in the Senate.

He offered to resign as head of the Republican Policy Committee in a phone call Wednesday with Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader.

"He's accepted responsibility for his actions and apologized to his family and constituents," McConnell, R-Ky., said. "He offered, and I accepted, his resignation as chairman of the Policy Committee."

At his news briefing Tuesday, Ensign said the affair he had last year was "the worst thing I have ever done in my life."

Although he did not identify the Hamptons, he said, "Our families were close. That closeness put me into situations which led to my inappropriate behavior."

Ensign's office says he carried out a consensual affair from December 2007 through August 2008 with a "campaign staffer who worked at Ensign for Senate and Battle Born PAC from December 2006 to May 2008. The campaign employee was married to an official Senate staffer who worked for Senator Ensign. As of May 2008 neither employee worked for Senator Ensign."

The statement by the Hamptons' lawyer removed any mystery about Cindy Hampton's identity.

Federal records show Cynthia Hampton was on the payroll of Ensign's Battle Born Political Action Committee, receiving $1,385.24 a month, until February 2008, when she was appointed treasurer and her salary was doubled to $2,771.50.

Her salary also doubled at Ensign's campaign committee, where she was treasurer, beginning around the time the affair began. It went from $500 a month to $1,000 a month.

Records show Doug Hampton, 47, received a monthly salary of $13,555 as an administrative assistant in Ensign's Senate office. He received a payment of $19,679 for his final month of employment and was off the payroll on May 1, 2008, according to Senate records.

Additionally, the National Republican Senatorial Committee made twice-monthly payments, generally $500, to Brandon Hampton, who Republican officials said was the couple's son. The payments began in March of last year and ended in August, when Ensign's office says the affair ended.

On Wednesday, reporters lingered outside the Hamptons' home, a 12,000-square-foot mansion just minutes from the Ensign family home in another private, gate-guarded community.

A housekeeper who answered the door said the Hamptons were away.

Later, Doug Hampton returned, entered the house and emerged briefly to plead for privacy before driving away. He referred questions to his lawyer.

FOX News' Trish Turner and the Associated Press contributed to this report.