Ensign says mistress' husband wanted money

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Letter: Senator confronted by others
The letter claims Ensign was confronted by others about his relationship and conduct.

"In fact one of the confrontations took place in February 2008 at his home in Washington DC with a group of his peers," Hampton wrote. "One of the attendee's was Senator Tom Coburn from Oklahoma as well as several other men who are close to the senator."

An aide to Coburn did not immediately respond to a call for comment.

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In the letter, Hampton said the Ensign and Hampton families were "lifelong friends, our children attend school together to this day, and our homes are in neighborhoods across from each other." He said he went to work for the senator in Washington in November 2006, but since leaving has "lost significant income, suffered indescribable pain and emotional suffering."

After leaving his post, Hampton, 47, quickly landed jobs with companies associated with the senator. He worked briefly for a consulting firm founded by Ensign's closest adviser, Mike Slanker. His biggest client was a Las Vegas-based airline whose executives have contributed generously to Ensign over the years.

Allegiant Air chief executive Maurice Gallagher and his wife have contributed more than $86,000 to Ensign's campaign and political action committees, federal records show.

Hampton later joined Allegiant Air in August 2008 and is currently vice president of government affairs, a company spokeswoman said.

Mazzola said Thursday that the senator made calls recommending Hampton for work after he left the Senate office.

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Ensign may find it tough to move on

On Friday, Hampton greeted a photographer outside his suburban Las Vegas home and asked for privacy. He handed out a card with his lawyer's name and phone number before driving away.

Neither Doug or Cindy Hampton has been available for questions since Ensign's news briefing. Their lawyer, Albregts, has said the Hamptons will tell their side of the story at some point.

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