By Mike Munzenrider
Weathering the fallout of a 2009 admission of an extra-marital affair, Sen. John Ensign announced Thursday that he would resign his Senate seat effective May 3.
The Republican Senator from Nevada had previously said that he would not seek reelection in 2012, though looming prosecution by the Senate Ethics Committee forced him to step aside reports the Los Angeles Times.
Ensign admitted to an affair with a campaign staffer after the staffer's husband threatened to go public about the affair. Ensign's parent's later paid the man a $96,000 gift, and Ensign apparently helped him get lobbying work, as noted by NPR.
Ensign's open seat will most likely go to Nevada Rep. Dean Heller, a Republican, though newly elected Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, also a Republican, has said that a decision has not been made reports the Los Angeles Times.
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