Chris Hayes, Washington editor of The Nation, talks with Rachel Maddow about Rick Santorum's role in the John Ensign sex scandal and how it conflicts with his stated principles with regard to Congressman Weiner's situation.
Rachel explains that Doug Hampton, the spouse of the staffer Ensign was having an affair with, reached out to Rick Santorum, Mr. Family Values, seeking advice about dealing with the situation. He also sent a copy of the letter to Fox News' Megyn Kelly.
"Rick,
I am a former senior staff member of John's working with him in his official office in DC. We have met a few time, actually played golf once in Las Vegas with John. My wife and I have a signed copy of your wife's book "Letters to Gabriel" and I had the privilege of sitting with you at the National Prayer Breakfast a few years ago. I don't expect you to remember me but I am reaching out to you because of the man you profess to be and the positions you have taken publicly with regards to family, integrity, and ethics."
...
It is my strong request we speak prior to you calling John but I realize I cannot control what you do with the information. I have tried for one year with John and others to resolve an unbelievable set of actions that John initiated and perpetuated bringing great destruction to me and my family. Your wisdom, counsel, and insight would be greatly appreciated...as well as your help to resolve this terrible cover up. I do not need to tell you the far reaching ramifications of what has been done."
The full letter is available here in pdf format, and the text of Doug Hampton's letter to Fox News is available here.
So what did Rick Santorum do with the information that the Ensign affair was about to be made public? Did he call Doug Hampton and offer any advice or comment? Santorum gave the email to John Ensign:
Rick Santorum alerted Sen. John Ensign in 2009 that the husband of Ensign's mistress wanted to go public with the affair that ultimately ended the Nevada Republican's Senate career, according to a Senate ethics committee report released Thursday.
After Doug Hampton — then a top Ensign aide whose wife was involved with the senator — emailed Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly seeking a meeting to discuss the affair, Hampton also shared the email with Santorum seeking his help. Santorum quickly passed the email onto Ensign, according to the ethics committee report.
A copy of the report issued by the Ethics committee is availableonline here.
Ensign then terminates the employment of the Hamptons, gets Mr. Hampton a job as a lobbyist, and has his father make a payment of $96,000 to the pair.
Santorum never once called for his friend John Ensign to resign from office.
Mr. Pot, meet Mr. Kettle.
I'll include a link to the transcript of the show as soon as it's available.