Statement of Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer On Senate Ethics Committee Actions Regarding Former Senator John Ensign and Referral to the Justice Department
Democracy 21 congratulates the Senate Ethics Committee, its leaders, Ethics Committee Chair Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Vice-Chair Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and its Special Counsel for their serious and thorough investigation of former Senator John Ensign.
It appears quite clear now why former Senator Ensign recently resigned from the Senate.
Former Senator Ensign’s transgressions in office were nothing less than an affront to the American people and an insult to all of his Senate colleagues.
Former Senator Ensign’s conduct constituted a terrible abuse of his office and of his power as a United States Senator. Former Senator Ensign violated with abandon the trust that the people of Nevada placed in him and completely ignored the interests of his Senate colleagues in a Senate that reflects the highest standards of conduct.
It is unfortunate that the Senate will not have the opportunity to hold former Senator Ensign accountable for his irresponsible and indefensible conduct.
We urge the Justice Department to move expeditiously to investigate the potential civil and criminal violations by former Senator Ensign that the Senate Ethics Committee has referred to the Justice Department.
