What will it take for Lowden, Tarkanian to call on Ensign to resign?

January 20, 2010: Las Vegas, NV. – GOP Senate candidates Sue Lowden and Danny Tarkanian said last year that they would welcome embattled Sen. John Ensign’s support on the campaign trail. But when news broke that Ensign aides are being questioned by the FBI, the pair waffled in their support of the scandal-plagued senator – but didn’t abandon him altogether.

Tarkanian said yesterday he might not welcome Ensign’s help any longer if the senator’s legal and ethical troubles has “gotten to be more serious,” and added that the FBI inquiry was certainly a sign that things were getting more serious.

And Lowden said if “the charges” against Ensign are true, “he should step down.”

“We’re left wondering how serious a charge it will take to get Sue Lowden and Danny Tarkanian to finally say they’d rather not campaign side-by-side with Sen. Ensign,” said Phoebe Sweet, communications director with the Nevada State Democratic Party. “Sen. Ensign has said he’s done nothing legally wrong, but all evidence – including the interest of the Senate Ethics Committee and the FBI – points to the contrary.

“We’re calling on Lowden and Tarkanian to tell Nevada voters exactly which charges they consider serious enough that John Ensign should step down.”

Here are some of the outstanding changes about Sen. Ensign’s behavior, some which carry criminal penalties, that remain:

Was the $96,000 Sen. Ensign’s parents paid to the Hampton family an illegal severance payment made in violation of FEC regulations?

Were Cindy and Doug Hampton dismissed from Ensign’s employ in violation of Senate rules as alleged by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington?

Did Sen. Ensign help Doug Hampton secure lobbying work in violation of the one-year, revolving door ban on lobbying by former Senate aides?

So, Danny and Sue, what will it take?