Sen. Ensign won't resign, will seek re-election

Nevada lawmaker under fire for affair, payout to woman's family

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updated 7:16 p.m. ET July 14, 2009

LAS VEGAS - Republican Sen. John Ensign says he has no plans to resign despite his affair with a staffer's wife and his parents' $96,000 payout to the woman's family, and will seek re-election in 2012.

The embattled lawmaker told the Las Vegas Sun he has received calls and e-mails of encouragement from supporters in Nevada and Washington, D.C.

"I fully plan on running for re-election," Ensign said. "I'm going to work to earn their respect back."

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The two-term Republican senator also says his support is coming from fellow senators as well as those "on both sides" of Senate leadership. He says supporters are telling him, "Keep your head up. This thing will pass."

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Vote: Would you vote to re-elect Sen. Ensign?

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, asked if he still supports Ensign, told the Sun, "Well, I think Senator Ensign will have to speak to those issues himself."