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 Doctor left her Alaskan cruise and never returned. Extremely rare bat-borne virus claims a human life. Actor Michael Madsen is dead at 67. Kyiv was subjected to 7 hours of 'terror.' Report an error