Both the husband and son of the woman with whom John Ensign had an affair are now employed by a Las Vegas company whose CEO is a major Ensign supporter.
Brandon Hampton, the 19-year-old son of Doug and Cynthia Hampton, works as a representative in the call center for Allegiant Air, an Allegiant spokeswoman told TPMmuckraker.
And Doug Hampton became a vice president of government affairs for Allegiant in August 2008, according to the spokeswoman, Tyri Squyres. She added: “He was hired based on his experience and credentials.”
In May 2008, Doug Hampton left his job as Ensign’s administrative assistant. The Las Vegas Review-Journal had previously reported that Doug Hampton had worked as a consultant for Allegiant since leaving Ensign’s office.
Politico reported yesterday that Brandon Hampton had been employed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2008 — when Ensign was NRSC chairman — to do “research policy consulting,” and earned a total $5,400, through August of that year.
As we reported yesterday, Allegiant’s CEO, Maurice Gallagher, contributed over $46,000 to the Ensign-affiliated Senate Majority Committee between 2005 and 2007, as well as smaller amounts to Ensign’s Senate campaign and the Battle Born PAC. And Gallagher’s wife Marcia gave another $20,000 to the Senate Majority Committee during the same period, as well as $6,200 to the Ensign campaign. Ensign touted Allegiant in an interview earlier this year.
Late Update: Allegiant is declining to say whether Brandon Hampton was hired through the regular hiring process. Asked by TPMmuckraker when Brandon was hired, under what circumstances, and whether he applied through the standard process, Squyres did not directly answer. She replied, via email:
Call center representatives are an entry level position that require no experience. It is also a position we hire for quite regularly.
