On the recordMay 12, 2011
yesterday the Senate Ethics Committee voted unanimously to release the special counsel's report regarding the actions of former Senator John Ensign. The committee also voted unanimously to refer several findings to the Department of Justice and to the Federal Election Commission because we had reason to believe that Senator Ensign violated laws within their jurisdiction. I want to thank from the bottom of my heart the Senators who participated in this investigation, many of whom are on the floor today: my vice chairman, the extraordinary leader, Senator Isakson--and I say leader, I mean a leader on the committee. I consider him to be a cochair with me. And Senator Roberts, who has been on this committee for a long time, who has a sense of history, and a sense of levity, and pragmatism. I appreciated his cooperation. I want to note the participation of Sherrod Brown, who came on this committee and began this journey with us and his very important contribution; Senator Risch, who brought with him a very strong legal slant on everything we did and was very valuable. I want to thank him. I want to say a special word of thanks to Senator Cardin who sat in on this case because Senator Pryor felt he had too close a relationship with Senator Ensign and had to recuse himself. Senator Cardin, we thank you so much for coming in and focusing on this case.…





