Sen. John Ensign ’s parents gave $96,000 to a former campaign staffer with whom he had an extramarital relationship and her family, his attorney said Thursday, denying that the payments violated campaign finance laws or Senate ethics rules.

“The payments were made as gifts, accepted as gifts and complied with tax rules governing gifts,” lawyer Paul Coggins said.

Coggins said Ensign’s parents “decided to make the gifts out of concern for the well-being of long-time family friends during a difficult time” after learning about the affair.

Cynthia Hampton was treasurer for Ensign’s campaign and political-action committees, and Doug Hampton was an administrative assistant in the senator’s Washington office.

“The gifts are consistent with a pattern of generosity by the Ensign family to the Hamptons and others,” Coggins said.

The statement was issued on the same day that a watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, called for the Department of Justice to investigate news reports that Ensign had made an out-of-pocket payment to Cynthia Hampton, and whether such a payment violated federal campaign finance rules because it was not reported.

“None of the gifts came from campaign or official funds nor were they related to any campaign or official duties,” Coggins said. “Senator Ensign has complied with all applicable laws and Senate ethics rules.”

Ensign, R-Nev., told reporters last month that he had an extramarital relationship with Cynthia Hampton from December 2007 until August 2008. She and her husband have not worked for Ensign since May 2008.

Doug Hampton said in a television interview Wednesday that Ensign provided Cynthia Hampton with $25,000 in severance when she stopped working for him.

“The Department of Justice has a responsibility to ensure that all Americans – even high level political officials – are held accountable for their actions,” CREW executive director Melanie Sloan said.

Ensign initially declined comment on the allegation or the publication in the Las Vegas Sun of a letter in which Ensign expresses remorse to Cynthia Hampton about the relationship. Ensign’s office said last month he went public because of demands for money from the Hamptons.

Sen. Tom Coburn , R-Okla., who acknowledged counseling Ensign about the affair, denied Hampton’s allegations that he had urged Ensign to make a payment to Cynthia Hampton and denied being present when the letter was written. Coburn, who shares a Washington house with Ensign, said he did urge Ensign to end the affair.

Doug Hampton “is in error and he’s manipulating the situation and you all are buying it. I was never present when a letter was written and never made any assessment about paying people anything,” Coburn said in a statement. “Those are untruths. Those are absolute untruths. I said that last night. I categorically denied his statement.”