Tulsa World: Coburn denies pushing payments

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Coburn denies pushing payments
He says he urged a fellow senator to end an extramarital affair but never discussed money.

COUNSELED COLLEAGUE
Sen. Tom Coburn (left): He says some of his discussions with Sen. John Ensign (right) about an extramarital affair are "privileged."

By JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau
Published: 7/10/2009 2:26 AM
Last Modified: 7/10/2009 3:30 AM

WASHINGTON — Sen. Tom Coburn confirmed Thursday that he confronted a fellow Republican senator about an extramarital affair and urged him to end it, but the Oklahoman categorically denied that he discussed any form of restitution or compensation for the former mistress.

Coburn also said that because he was acting as both a physician and a church deacon, at least some of his discussions with Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., can remain off limits, even to the Senate Ethics Committee.

He described those discussions as "privileged.''

Other new developments in the weeks-long Ensign sex scandal:

A lawyer revealed that the parents of the embattled senator had paid a total of $96,000 to Cynthia Hampton, Ensign's former mistress and his campaign's former treasurer; her husband, Doug Hampton, a former Ensign aide; and two of the couple's children.
A Washington group that had filed an ethics complaint against Ensign called on the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation.

Coburn, who for the most part has declined to respond to many of the questions triggered by the Ensign affair, answered a number of reporters' questions Thursday.

He spoke in the wake of claims by Doug Hampton in an exclusive interview with a Las Vegas Sun columnist, Jon Ralston, that Coburn had encouraged Ensign to make some kind of restitution.

"None whatsoever,'' Coburn said when asked whether he had discussed some kind of payment to the Hamptons.

"I categorically deny that.''

Coburn confirmed that he confronted Ensign about the affair and encouraged him not only to end it but to go public with it.

"I think the press should leave it alone and let the Ethics Committee handle it,'' he said.

Addressing whether he would agree to testify before the committee, Coburn said he would talk to the panel but indicated that some of his discussions with Ensign over the affair might be off limits even to Senate investigators.

He said he had been involved in such situations "multiple times."

"And so there's a segment of my counseling (that) is privileged that I won't divulge,'' he said.

Coburn said that privileged information was linked to his role as both a physician and a church deacon.

Asked whether that would bar him from talking to the Ethics Committee, Coburn replied: "I don't know. It depends on what they ask.''

Coburn spoke not long before an attorney for Ensign released a statement revealing the payments by Ensign's parents to both of the Hamptons and their children. The payments totaled $96,000.

"The payments were made as gifts, accepted as gifts and complied with tax rules governing gifts,'' the statement says.

None of the gifts came from Ensign's campaign or was related to any official duties, it says.

"Sen. Ensign has complied with all applicable laws and Senate ethics rules,'' it says.

Pressure appeared to be building for some kind of an official investigation into Ensign's involvement with the Hamptons.

The group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington called on Attorney General Eric Holder to order a criminal investigation.

"As despicable as Sen. Ensign's conduct has been, it now appears it also may have been criminal,'' said Melanie Sloan, CREW's executive director.

"The Department of Justice has a responsibility to ensure that all Americans — even high-level political officials — are held accountable for their actions.''

The group released its statement in response to Doug Hampton's comments but before the revelation of the $96,000.

Jim Myers (202) 484-1424
jim.myers@tulsaworld.com By JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Coburn denies discussing restitution for Ensign's former mistress," which was published on 7/9/2009.

	Report Comment Bullhead, Nicut (7/9/2009 3:30:42 PM) Of course he says he didn't do it. HA!
	Report Comment heynow, (7/9/2009 3:31:32 PM) Church deacon my "rear". You're a Senator bud.
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (7/9/2009 3:34:40 PM) Stay tuned.
	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (7/9/2009 3:37:13 PM) Well, isn't that special? Some of his conversations are off limits? How convenient.
	Report Comment Harry, (7/9/2009 3:43:52 PM) politician, enough said
	Report Comment Bville, (7/9/2009 3:52:40 PM) More selective outrage from Clinton supporters.
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (7/9/2009 4:01:00 PM) Sounds like someone has an axe to grind about something. The axe is ending up in Coburn's back.
	Report Comment cowboytimothy, (7/9/2009 4:02:06 PM) Coburn is flat-out lying, he was the rommie that started this $96,000 healing fund to the fragmented family whose Mom was being bopped by Coburn's roomate. The deacon nonsense isn't going to hold water, it's simply a diversion. Fact is, Tom instigated the hush money, it was his idea, yet now he denies this. What's the deal?
	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (7/9/2009 4:11:10 PM) I apologize for smarting off in the earlier post. I want to believe Coburn, but, as generally is the case, the truth is so elusive when at least one of those involved has been shown to be untrustworthy. While I want to admire the loyalty he is showing to his friend, I wish he could prove his innocence as easily as he professes it.
	Report Comment Bedazzled, (7/9/2009 4:15:33 PM) The right wing and GOP Administration have Double Standards and Bvill this has nothing to do with Clinton.
	Report Comment Bedazzled, (7/9/2009 4:19:33 PM) I don't think the husband of the mistress just pulled Colburn's name out of a hat for no reason at all. What would be the purpose.
	Report Comment miznan, Manhattan, Montana (7/9/2009 4:21:25 PM) You people are making this up as you go along. The Hamptons and the Ensigns have been friends for years. (Probably not any more). She began the hustle for the senator. And they did it. His family paid the money. Dougie is lying all over the place about it. Coburn had nothing to do with it. You make it sound as if he set them up. Get real and face the fact that you radical libs just don't like Coburn.
	Report Comment TulsaLdy7, (7/9/2009 4:22:18 PM) It's been just a matter of time. Coburn agitates Democrat's by consistently standing up for what is right. Politics on both sides so mean-spirited.
	Report Comment droopy, wagoner (7/9/2009 4:25:38 PM) If this bunch of idiots gets any farther left, they are going to be joining the far right. Go Dr. Coburn.
	Report Comment MaintenanceMan, Tulsa (7/9/2009 4:30:20 PM) cowboytim, Were you in the room with them? Please tell us what your advice was.... Didn't think so.
	Report Comment North CA, (7/9/2009 4:50:37 PM) I agree with Bedazzled. What does the husband have to gain by implicating Coburn?
	Report Comment SS_Hippy, Tulsa (7/9/2009 4:51:57 PM) 2 words: scan dal
	Report Comment insider9909, Cushing (7/9/2009 4:56:16 PM) Do any of you want to know the connection between Ensign and Coburn? Google "christian group the family" and get an education. Coburn and Ensign are both members of this questionable sect that is working for american theocracy.
	Report Comment desert fox, (7/9/2009 5:21:27 PM) His lips are moving sideways, like Deadeye Dick Cheney's do.
	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (7/9/2009 8:48:17 PM) I see it now, PumpJack.
	Report Comment ekrub, tulsa (7/9/2009 10:58:50 PM) Coburn said the privileged information was linked to his role as a deacon and a physician? Ummm, Coburn is an OB/GYN, and I believe Ensign is a male. This explanation would be laughable were it not so insulting. Obviously, Coburn wrongly assumes that the rest of the country is as ignorant as his constituency.
	Report Comment PAN, (7/10/2009 3:43:09 AM) I think the Ethics Committee should have a FULL investigation into EVERY congressman in the U.S. Then, MAYBE we could get back to business on things like - uh - LIVING!! All of this bull about this one and that one having affairs or giving advice is NOTHING but an attempt to divert the attention of the citizens of this country so the 'powers that be' (bigger than Big Bro.) can continue to sell us out and control everything we do. The really SAD thing is, this diversion is working and people are buying into it!! It is HOGWASH!!
	Report Comment gba, (7/10/2009 4:28:36 AM) downfall of coburn has started uses excuse of being a church decon and dr.to do what ever he wants then gets on his high horse about morality and tries to push his conservative ideas down our throats never fails.....give a guy enough rope and he will hang him self!!!!!!!!!!
	Report Comment TumblingDice, Tulsa (7/10/2009 7:00:28 AM) 'Asked whether that would bar him from talking to the Ethics Committee, Coburn replied: "I don't know. It depends on what they ask.'' ' Fascinating response there senator/doctor/pastor, pretty pathetic ethical standards on display. Oh, but you're a church deacon and and Republican with a direct pipeline to God, you're "privileged". Once again hypocrisy wins the day.
	Report Comment Bubba, Bixby (7/10/2009 7:03:15 AM) Why do we care?

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