Politics | Congress Ensign Quits Senate GOP Leadership Post Resigns as chair of Policy Committee after admitting affair By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Jun 17, 2009 12:20 PM CDT Copied U.S. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., speaks to local residents during a stop at a local ice cream parlor, Monday, June 1, 2009, in Le Mars, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Sen. John Ensign has stepped down from his leadership post a day after admitting an affair with a woman who was on his campaign staff. He conveyed his decision in a phone call with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said he had accepted the resignation. Ensign was chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, the fourth-ranking spot in the leadership. Read These Next A game of doorbell ditch turns fatal for 11-year-old. Iran's leaders ditched their phones. Their bodyguards didn't. It's an unexpected footnote in the life of Buford Pusser. Guy accused of snatching hat from boy at US Open IDed as rich CEO. Report an error