Aide admits she had affair with Ensign

LAS VEGAS, June 18 (UPI) -- A lawyer for a former aide to U.S. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., has released a statement acknowledging she is the woman he had an affair with.

Daniel Albregts, a Nevada lawyer, spoke for both Cindy Hampton and her husband, Doug, the Las Vegas Review-Journal said. The statement was released Wednesday, the day after Ensign admitted the extramarital affair.

"It is unfortunate the senator chose to air this very personal matter, especially after the Hamptons did everything possible to keep this matter private," Albregts said. "It is equally unfortunate that he did so without concern for the effect such an announcement would have on the Hampton family."

Both Hamptons worked for Ensign in 2007 and 2008.

Ensign has said he plans to stay in the Senate but he resigned Wednesday from the Republican Policy Committee. He had been No. 4 in the Senate GOP leadership.

An Ensign aide said the senator admitted the affair because Doug Hampton had been talking to a television station about it.