Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) has come under increasing internal pressure this week from Nevada Republicans who believe he should resign due to increasing concerns that his ethics investigation will end up damaging the party in November.
"We are on the verge of great victory come November, but the most long awaited victory can quickly slip through our grasp unless we immediately put the focus back on conservative issues," Richard Scotti and Swadeep Nigam, two former Clark County GOP officials, wrote at Nevada News and Views. "We call on all true conservative Republican leaders and activists to speak out now for the resignation of Senator Ensign."
In an appearance on Nevada television, Rep. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) also called Ensign a "wounded junior senator" and said that this was a "cause for concern" for the party.
"Will it have impact up and down the ticket for Republicans this fall? I think there is the potential for that happening," Heller added, stopping short of calling for the Senator's resignation.
Last year, Ensign admitted to having an affair with Cynthia Hampton, a staffer for his campaign and the wife of his best friend and co-chief of staff. In the aftermath, Ensign may have helped Doug Hampton find lobbyist work, as well as directed a $96,000 "gift" to the Hamptons, claims that a federal grand jury is now investigating.