The federal investigation surrounding Sen. John Ensign and what he did or didn't do to help secure lobbying work for his former mistress' husband is expanding.

A federal grand jury issued subpoenas to the National Republican Senatorial Committee which Ensign, of Nevada, once headed. Several Las Vegas businesses also received subpoenas, according to reports.

From AP:

One subpoena went to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which was formerly chaired by Ensign, a Nevada Republican, committee spokesman Brian Walsh said Thursday.

Sean Cairncross, general counsel for the group that is the campaign committee for Republican Senate candidates, said the committee has responded appropriately to questions concerning matters related to the timeframe of the 2008 election campaign.

Earlier Thursday, a Las Vegas television station reported that grand jury subpoenas in the Ensign probe went to six Las Vegas businesses that it did not name.

 

To say the pressure is really intensifying on Ensign would be an understatement.

Here's how the Las Vegas News Journal put it:

The issuance of the subpoenas indicate the Justice Department is entering a new phase of its investigation that in the meantime further darkens the cloud over Ensign. Politico.com earlier this week reported the two-term senator, who turns 52 on March 25, has become a lonely figure in the Senate, with colleagues hesitant to be seen with him.

Apart from acknowledging his affair with Cindy Hampton, a family friend, Ensign has maintained he did nothing illegal or improper.

"Senator Ensign is confident he has complied with all ethics rules and laws and will cooperate with any official inquiries," his spokeswoman Rebecca Fisher said. She would not comment on any contact that Ensign or any members of his current staff may have had with investigators.