Mother of former Sen. Ensign dies at 75

LAS VEGAS — The mother of former Nevada Sen. John Ensign has died at age 75.

An obituary says Sharon Lee Ensign was surrounded by family when she died at her Las Vegas home on Thursday. A funeral is scheduled Jan. 16.

Ensign was born in Carson City. She had three children with her first husband before marrying Mike Ensign, who adopted her children and became a casino executive in Las Vegas.

The couple came under scrutiny during a scandal that led to their Republican Senator son’s resignation in 2011. The couple paid $96,000 to John Ensign’s mistress and campaign treasurer, Cynthia Hampton, in 2008.

The Federal Election Commission later ruled the payment was a severance, not a gift, and constituted an undisclosed campaign contribution. Both Ensign and his parents were fined.