The report of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics which found that former Nevada Senator John Ensign violated Senate ethics, rules and federal law, also revealed that Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) was involved in the cover-up of Ensign’s affair. The report, released last week, raises questions about whether Senator Coburn violated Senate rules and law by possibly aiding Ensign in covering up his sexual relationship with Cindy Hamilton, Ensign’s former employee and the wife of his former Chief of Staff.
In October 2009, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which filed the initial complaint against Ensign, also filed a complaint to the Ethics Committee against Senator Coburn for his possible role in the scandal. During a November 2009 interview, Coburn, an ob-gyn, claimed that he acted as a medical doctor and a church deacon in aiding Ensign, making his conversations privileged.
Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW, stated, “Although CREW filed a complaint against Sen. Coburn regarding his role, the committee did not comment on the clear inconsistencies between Sen. Coburn’s version of events and those of other witnesses. CREW hopes the Ethics Committee will release its report as to Sen. Coburn’s conduct as it did with the report on Sen. Ensign. This is all the more necessary given that Sen. Coburn is still in office.”
Both Senators Ensign and Coburn were residents at C-Street, a right wing so-called religious organization where several Republican leaders were revealed to be in sexual scandals.
Send a letter: release the findings on Coburn!
