WASHINGTON (AP) — Offered the opportunity to support two embattled GOP senators, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell passed it up. McConnell repeatedly refused to answer questions Friday about reports that Sen. John Ensign of Nevada and his friend Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma were involved in the cover-up of Ensign’s affair with a campaign staffer.
Ensign has admitted having an affair with the wife of one of his top aides. The wife worked in Ensign’s campaign office. Ensign eventually dismissed them both.
McConnell was asked about a report in The New York Times that said Ensign then tried to get former chief of staff Doug Hampton a lobbying job to try to contain the damage. The report says Coburn tried to broker a deal to pay the Hamptons money.