$100K To Sen. Ensign's Mistress

The family of GOP Sen. John "Defender Of Marriage" Ensign paid his mistress $96,000 out of the kindness of their hearts. Not as hush money. Totally not. Ensign's lawyer:

In April 2008, Senator John Ensign's parents each made gifts to Doug Hampton, Cindy Hampton, and two of their children in the form of a check totaling $96,000. Each gift was limited to $12,000. The payments were made as gifts, accepted as gifts and complied with tax rules governing gifts. After the Senator told his parents about the affair, his parents decided to make the gifts out of concern for the well-being of long-time family friends during a difficult time. The gifts are consistent with a pattern of generosity by the Ensign family to the Hamptons and others.

The cuckolded husband of Ensign's mistress released a handwritten letter from the Senator yesterday in which he plead for forgiveness for having used her "for his pleasure" and having sinned against God. Ensign has not addressed his having pilloried Clinton for adultery and having endorsed anti-gay marriage legislation...all while being a cheater himself.