Senator Ensign, under criminal investigation over affair with staffer, may try to block DADT repeal

We learned two things about ethically-challenged Senator John Ensign last week.

Via Chris Johnson, Ensign is prepared to fight against the compromise DADT repeal language:

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) last week expressed unease about language in pending defense budget legislation that would lead to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal and said he would consider supporting measures to stop the Senate from passing the provision.

In a brief exchange on Capitol Hill, Ensign told the Blade he shared the views of the military service chiefs, who, prior to earlier congressional action this year on repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” wrote to lawmakers to express concern about the action they were taking.

“The problem is you can’t go out and say to the military chiefs, ‘We’re going to survey you and see what you all think,’ and then you pass the bill to repeal it,” Ensign said. “So the study should come first and then you can talk about the repeal or not of ['Don't Ask, Don't Tell']. So, yes, it is a concern simply because the study’s not done.”

That's no surprise. He's a typical GOP homophobe.

But, let's not forget that Ensign is facing a criminal investigation stemming from the fallout from the affair he had with a staffer, Cynthia Hampton. Her husband, Doug, also worked for Ensign. It's tawdry.

So, the other thing we learned is that the full Senate approved a resolution allowing Ensign's staff to testify before the grand jury that's investigating the Senator:

The Senate’s approval of the resolution is the latest sign that the investigation into the senator’s affair – and whether he illegally attempted to cover it up and flouted federal law by helping the lobbying career of his former mistress’ husband – continues to move swiftly. Last week, POLITICO first reported that Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn – Ensign’s former roommate - had given scores of e-mails to federal investigators to assist with their inquiry.

That John Ensign is still in the Senate is an affront. That the big hypocrite is still trying to bash gays is almost comical. I hope he gets jail time.