Embattled Sen. John Ensign says he followed rules; mum on resignation

Sen. John Ensign said he did not break any rules by lining up a job for his former mistress's husband.

Ambushed by CNN, Ensign said he would cooperate with any investigation but emphasized that he and his office had followed all applicable ethics guidelines.

"But we absolutely did nothing except for comply exactly with what the ethics laws and the ethics rules of the Senate state," Ensign said. "We were very careful in everything that we did, and you can see our statements on that."

The NY Times reported last week that Ensign found a lobbying job for Doug Hampton, his former aide and the husband of Ensign's mistress Cindy Hampton. Ensign then reportedly intervened on behalf of Hampton's clients.

Pressed on whether he would resign, Ensign dodged the question.

"I am focused on doing my work," he said.  "And I'm going to continue to focus on doing my work."