Ensign announces staff changes

Sen. John Ensign announced the departure of his chief of staff and communications director today and their replacements, marking a major turnover in the scandal-plagued office.

Chief of Staff John Lopez is to be replaced by Aaron Cohen, a lobbyist and former Ensign staffer. Tory Mazzola, Ensign’s communications director, also is leaving and is to be replaced by Rebecca Fisher, the office announced in a news release.

Lopez will stay on until the end of August “as he weighs options in the private sector,” the release states.

Cohen, currently vice president for government and political affairs at the Washington lobbying firm Kimbell and Associates, worked for Ensign from 2001 to 2005, serving as chief health care policy adviser.

Mazzola is taking a job as northeast region press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee. Fisher, his replacement, worked for Ensign at the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Republican Policy Committee.

Another addition to the office is Pam Thiessen, who’s returning as senior policy adviser. She left as Ensign’s legislative director in January to work for the policy committee.

Ensign has been in damage control mode since announcing last month that he had an affair with a former campaign staffer.