Nevada senator John Ensign on Tuesday admitted to having an extramarital affair with campaign treasurer, Cynthia Hampton.

Cynthia Hampton, 46, is married to Douglas Hampton, who also worked for the Senator. Douglas Hampton served as an aide in his Capitol Hill office from November 2006 to May 2008.

The affair reportedly took place between December 2007 and August 2008.

Ensign, 51, described the affair as 'absolutely the worst thing that I have ever done in my life’ as he spoke on Tuesday at a news conference from his office in Navada publically confessing to the affair expressing deep regret for his action and for hurting his wife.

Our families were close, a weary-looking Ensign said. That closeness put me into situations which led to my inappropriate behavior. We caused deep pain to both families and for that I am sorry.

Ensign is married and is a father of three children. His wife Darlene said the families had worked through the situation and said, “with the help of our family and close friends our marriage has become stronger, the Associated Press reported.

The senator has no plans to retire.