RENO, Nev. (AP) — Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons says he feels "very badly" for U.S. Sen. John Ensign, but wouldn't speculate on the fellow Republican's political future.
The Nevada senator admitted Tuesday that he had a nine-month extramarital affair with a former campaign worker, Cindy Hampton, last year.
Ensign, in his second term, has said he intends to remain in the Senate. He resigned Wednesday as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee in the Senate, the fourth-ranking leadership post.
Gibbons, who's divorcing first lady Dawn Gibbons, told the Reno Gazette-Journal he has not talked to Ensign since the senator admitted to the affair.
"I feel very badly for John and I feel very badly for Darlene," he said. "I think their family is suffering. This is a very personal and private matter for them.
"John handled this the way he thought was best, and I think their family has a lot of work to do to get through this. I just want to tell them that they have my support. Whatever I can do to help them is fine," the governor said.
But he wouldn't comment on what's next for Ensign.
"Those are decisions that John and his family are going to have to make, not the governor of Nevada," Gibbons said.
Dan Burns, the governor's spokesman, said Friday that Gibbons would have no further comment on the situation.
Gibbons has had problems of his own. Since being elected in 2006, he's been accused of sexual assault, sending love notes on a state phone, improperly firing a state employee and now, in court documents filed by his wife, Dawn Gibbons, a history of infidelity.
He's denied having an affair and the other allegations, but faces a civil lawsuit in the employee's firing. No charges were filed in the sexual assault, but the woman has sued the governor.
by the associated press
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