(MYFOX NATIONAL) - Sen. John Ensign, a conservative Republican from Nevada, has admitted to having an affair with a married woman. He said it was "the worst thing" he has ever done in his life, though he has no intention of resigning due to the extramarital affair.
The woman in question was not named by Ensign, but multiple reports name her as 46-year-old Cynthia Hampton. According to those reports, the affair was well known in Nevada political circles.
Politico reported that Hampton is married to Douglas Hampton, who worked in Ensign's Senate office. Both no longer work for Ensign.
According to Politico Hampton served as the treasurer for Ensign's re-election campaign and for his political committee. Also it is believed that Ensign's affair with Hampton took place between December 2007 and August 2008. FEC records show that she ended her affiliation with the two committees in early 2008.
Her husband Douglas Hampton served as Ensign's administrative assistant in his personal office from November 2006 to May 2008, around the same time Cynthia Hampton left Ensign's committees.
At a press conference Tuesday in Las Vegas, Ensign stated that "I will not mention any names but the woman who I was involved with and her husband were close friends and both of them worked for me. Our families were close. That closeness put me into situations which led to my inappropriate behavior. We caused deep pain to both families and for that I am sorry."
There have also been reports that Ensign went public about the affair because of blackmail threat. FoxNews.com reports that "two Senate Republican sources close to Sen. John Ensign of Nevada told FOX News that a former employee had asked Ensign for money in what both sources described as a case of 'extortion.'"
Ensign has been considered a potential presidential candidate, recently speaking at events in Iowa. He is a member of Promise Keepers, a group that promotes marital fidelity.
