Sen. John Ensign, a Nevada Republican, has decided to resign rather than face an ethics probe he says would cause more “wear and tear” on himself and his family. Ensign, who had already announced he wasn’t running for reelection in 2012, was involved in an extramarital affair with a staffer. If Gov. Brian Sandoval appoints Congressman Dean Heller to fill out the remainder of Ensign’s term, it will give the Republican Heller a leg up in both the primary and the general election.
