Justice Department subpoenas businesses involved in Ensign probe

The Department of Justice issued subpoenas to at least six Las Vegas businesses that are involved in a criminal investigation related to Sen. John Ensign's (R-Nev.) extramarital affair.

Federal investigators are probing events connected to Ensign's affair with Cindy Hampton, the wife of his former staffer Doug Hampton. The embattled senator allegedly helped Doug Hampton secure a lobbying position following the affair in exchange, which would violate rules banning former staffers from lobbying the Senate until a year after they leave their jobs.

The subpoenas were served earlier this month by investigators from the Justice Department to Las Vegas businesses that dealt with Ensign, the Hamptons and the senator's staff after Jan. 2008, according to KLAS. 

Investigators want to know if the businesses were pressured to give Hampton a job in the wake of his affair and what, if anything, they would get in exchange.

A related investigation conducted by the Senate ethics committee has also issued subpoenas to Nevadans.