Reid Mum on Latest Troubles for Ensign
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) declined to comment today on Sen. John Ensign’s (R-Nev.) continuing ethics troubles.
“That is an issue that … is now handled by the Ethics Committee and whatever is going on with the Justice Department,” Reid said Thursday. “I don’t need to offer my opinion.”
Reid also declined to say whether he would continue to uphold a long-standing agreement with Ensign to refrain from publicly criticizing each other.
The New York Times reported Wednesday evening that more potentially troubling e-mails had surfaced of Ensign’s involvement in trying to help the husband of his mistress find lobbying clients. Those actions may have violated the Senate’s one-year ban on lobbying after being a staffer, as the husband, Doug Hampton, had been.
The Senate Ethics panel and the Justice Department have reportedly been looking into Ensign’s involvement.