Oklahoma senator turns over e-mails in Ensign probe

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., has handed over e-mails to authorities investigating criminal misconduct allegations against Sen. John Ensign, a spokesman confirmed Friday.

Coburn was a former roommate with Ensign at a Christian group house on Capitol Hill and served as an intermediary for a period in 2008 between the Nevada Republican and Doug Hampton, the husband of Ensign's mistress at the time.

Spokesman John Hart confirmed that Coburn turned over e-mails in response to a request by the Justice Department, which is conducting a probe of Ensign's extramarital affair and allegations of efforts that covered it up for a time.

"Dr. Coburn has always said he will gladly cooperate with any official inquiry into the matter as he is doing now," Hart said.

Coburn's cooperation is the latest sign that the Justice Department's Office of Public Integrity is moving forward with the investigation, which has darkened Ensign's reputation and raised questions about his political future.

Ensign has denied any wrongdoing, and has been testing the waters for a possible re-election campaign in 2012.

After the Ensign affair was revealed in June 2009, Coburn initially said he would claim privilege if asked about advice he had given the Nevadan about the affair. He later backed off that statement.

In a story that Politico posted to its website on Friday, the Oklahoman said he was willing to be interviewed by the FBI or the Senate Ethics Committee that is conducting a separate Ensign investigation.

"We've given them everything they wanted," Coburn told the political news site, referring to the Justice Department. He said he was not subpoenaed.

"They haven't asked for an interview -- they asked for e-mails, that's all," he said. "We got one letter, we complied and fulfilled it."

Coburn told Politico "there weren't many e-mails." He wouldn't say about how many or what was in them.

Ensign's office had no comment on Friday. In an interview on Thursday, Ensign said he was not aware of any fresh developments in the investigations.

Authorities reportedly are looking into the relationship between Ensign and Hampton, his former administrative assistant. It has been alleged they conspired to break federal lobbying laws as Ensign attempted to smooth over the aftermath of his relationship with Hampton's wife, Cindy, who worked on Ensign's political committees.

Ensign contacted several Nevada companies to line up lobbying work for Doug Hampton as he was leaving the senator's Capitol Hill staff, and reportedly directed several other staffers to help Hampton in his new career. Federal law prohibits senior aides from lobbying the Senate for a year after leaving.

Investigators also are looking into other aspects, including a $96,000 check that Ensign's parents gave the Hamptons as they left Ensign. Also, several Nevada paycard companies have been subpoenaed as to whether Ensign may have offered to help them on a federal matter in return for campaign contributions.

Coburn and Ensign were among a small group of lawmakers who lived at the "C Street" house that was owned by a church-connected organization in back of the Library of Congress. Ensign since has moved.

Coburn has acknowledged being approached by Hampton in 2008, as he was trying to get Ensign to end the relationship with his wife. The Oklahoma senator discussed his involvement in a November 2009 interview on ABC-TV that was also referenced by Politico.

Coburn told interviewer George Stephanopoulos his goal was "to bring two families to a closure of a very painful episode." He denied being involved in any negotiations between Ensign and Hampton.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.