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 Merchants could slap new surcharges on certain credit card purchases. Warren Buffett is changing how he's distributing his vast wealth. Students hit with felony charges over a giant anti-TPUSA insect. DNA break leads to arrest in 1994 Seattle cold case. Report an error