As the investigation of his actions deepens, ethically tainted Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) has begun whining about the media coverage of the scandal. As Politico reports:

The Nevada Republican made the charge as he was being asked whether he’s been subpoenaed in a grand jury probe into the aftermath of his affair. Instead of answering that question, he descended into an extended rebuke of the press — including Politico — for the way it has covered the scandal surrounding him.

“Seeking of the truth should be not only part of the Justice Department and part of our judicial system, but also should be ... a goal of reporters today,” Ensign said. “Unfortunately, too much of our press is ... (1) biased or (2) just about ‘gotcha.’”

On the one hand, Sen. Ensign complains that the press isn't seeking the "truth," but, on the other hand, he sidesteps a simple question about whether he has received a subpoena. If he is so interested in making sure the truth is known, the senator should be willing to answer questions like this.

Unfortunately, whining about the media cannot undo the actions taken by Sen. Ensign in the scandal involving Doug and Cynthia Hampton.

A federal grand jury has issued subpoenas to at least a half-dozen Nevada companies with connections to ethically tained Sen. John Ensign (R-NV). Politico calls the subpoenas "a sign that the criminal probe into Ensign’s romantic relationship with a former aide is accelerating."

KLAS, the CBS-TV affiliate in Las Vegas, reports:

The subpoenas sought any and all records; including emails, phone calls and calendars regarding any interaction the Las Vegas businesses may have had with Ensign, his Chief of Staff John Lopez, Doug Hampton, Hampton's wife Cindy -- the object of the senator's romantic interest -- Ensign's principal political advisor Mike Slanker, and Slanker's company November Inc.

Slanker and wife Lindsay were hired by Ensign to run the fundraising effort for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

After Ensign's affair with Hampton's wife became known, Ensign urged the Slankers to hire Hampton at November Inc. Hampton was later hired by two Nevada companies with known ties to Ensign, but the trail of subpoenas makes it clear the Justice Department wants to know if other Las Vegas businesses had their arms twisted to give work to Hampton, or whether they were pressured by Ensign or his senate staffers, and what the businesses expected in return.

If Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) believed the ethical cloud above him would dissipate, events have proven him wrong. Yesterday's New York Times reported:

Previously undisclosed e-mail messages turned over to the F.B.I. and Senate ethics investigators provide new evidence about Senator John Ensign’s efforts to steer lobbying work to the embittered husband of his former mistress and could deepen his legal and political troubles.

... [The e-mails] appear to undercut the senator’s assertion that he did not know the work might involve Congressional lobbying, which could violate a federal ban on such activities by staff members for a year after leaving government.

This news has prompted media in Sen. Ensign's home state to renew their examination of the scandal. Yesterday, the CBS-TV affiliate in Las Vegas provided this report (click on video at top right). In this TV story, CREW's Melanie Sloan calls the email messages "further evidence" that Sen. Ensign was engaged in activity that is "completely against the law."

According to National Journal, ethically-tainted Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) will try to “reintroduce himself” to Nevadans next week as he hosts the first of two forums on health care reform. Perhaps the senator is hoping that tea-party types will be so focused on denouncing health care reform that they’ll never dream of asking questions about the ethical concerns surrounding him.

Let’s hope that at least some of the people who show up at these forums will be as willing as CNN’s Rick Sanchez was to ask the tough questions about Sen. Ensign’s behavior vis-à-vis the Doug Hampton scandal.

Sen. Ensign's "reintroduction" faces obstacles. According to National Journal:

Ensign's poll numbers in NV are worse than Sen. Harry Reid's (D), and only slightly better than continually-embattled Gov. Jim Gibbons (R).

Click here to hear CREW's Melanie Sloan summarize the serious ethical concerns surrounding Sen. Ensign.