RENO (AP) - Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons says he feels "very badly" for U.S. Sen. John Ensign, but wouldn't speculate on the fellow Republican's political future.
The Nevada senator admitted Tuesday that he had a nine-month extramarital affair with a former campaign worker, Cindy Hampton, last year.
Ensign, in his second term, has said he intends to remain in the Senate.
He resigned Wednesday as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee in the Senate, the fourth-ranking leadership post.
"I feel very badly for John and I feel very badly for Darlene," he said. "I think their family is suffering. This is a very personal and private matter for them.
"John handled this the way he thought was best, and I think their family has a lot of work to do to get through this. I just want to tell them that they have my support. Whatever I can do to help them is fine," the governor said.
But he wouldn't comment on what's next for Ensign.
"Those are decisions that John and his family are going to have to make, not the governor of Nevada," Gibbons said.