Justice Dept. Ends Ensign Investigation

In what the embattled lawmaker has dubbed an “early Christmas statement,” the Justice Department has ended its investigation of Senator John Ensign (R-NV) for allegedly trying to cover up an extramarital affair with a top aide. However, Ensign is still up for a Senate Ethics Committee investigation which could get him booted from Congress. The Republican, who admitted a six-month affair with his friend’s wife, Cindy Hampton, in 2009 was at risk of going to jail during the Justice Department’s “exhaustive” probe. Ensign’s office released a statement, saying: ”Senator Ensign is certainly pleased that the Department of Justice no longer views him as a target in their investigation, and has long-stated that he acted in accordance with the law.”