LAS VEGAS -- A representative for Nevada Sen. John Ensign is disputing a claim by the woman with whom he'd had an extramarital affair.

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In a statement released through their attorney yesterday, Cindy Hampton and her husband Doug criticized Ensign for revealing the affair to the public.

The statement called it "unfortunate" that Ensign had chosen to "air this very personal matter." It said the Hamptons had done "everything possible to keep this matter private."

Not so, said Ensign's representative, Tony Mazzola.

Mazzola said that before Ensign announced that he'd had an affair, he learned that the woman's husband had contacted a TV news organization. A lawyer representing the couple isn't commenting on that assertion.

Ensign had said that Cindy Hampton and her husband were "close friends" of his when he became involved with her.