Sen. Ensign admits parents gave money to mistress and family

Though Ensign reportedly sent Cynthia Hampton a handwritten letter saying that he had used her "for my own pleasure" and that their relationship was a "sin," Doug Hampton said that the senator quickly disavowed the letter and continued hounding his wife. At one point, Hampton said, Ensign bought cellphones for himself and Cynthia Hampton so their spouses couldn't track their calls.

In April 2008, Hampton said, he and his wife were forced out of Ensign's offices, though the senator's camp said the affair continued through August of that year. Meanwhile, Ensign secured Hampton a job at a political ally's consulting firm and then at Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air.

That could have discreetly ended the saga. But a few weeks ago, Hampton begged Fox News in a distraught letter to expose Ensign, who "ruined our lives and careers and left my family in shambles," Hampton said. Hampton suggested that former Sen. Rick Santorum, a Fox News contributor, might have alerted Ensign to the letter. (Santorum could not be reached for comment.)

Regardless, when Ensign learned that Hampton had tipped off the media, he abruptly flew from Washington to Las Vegas. Nearly a year after it had ended, Ensign publicly apologized for the affair.

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ashley.powers@latimes.com

mark.barabak@latimes.com