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Senate Ethics Committee refers case of former Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) to Justice Department for criminal investigation.

Things looking really bad for Ensign. Ethics Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is on the Senate floor now explaining the referral of the Ensign case to the Justice Department and FEC. She has read a laundry list of violations by Ensign including obstruction of justice.

Most tellingly, Boxer revealed that the special counsel named by the Ethics Committee was recommending expulsion for Ensign, an extraordinary move. It appears the prospect of a Ethics Committee proceeding resulting in possible expulsion was what prompted Ensign to resign his seat after hanging on throughout the lengthy scandal.

You can read the report here.

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