Republican Assemblyman Steps Down Amid Sex-Talk Scandal
Posted: Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Sacramento, C.A.—Republican Assemblyman Mike Duvall has stepped down following a scandal in which he was caught on tape boasting about his illicit sexual conquests to a fellow assemblyman.Recorded during a committee meeting inside the California State Capitol Building in July, Duvall can be heard telling Assembyman Jeff Miller that he likes to spank his mistress, that she wears skimpy underwear, and that there is a 19-year age difference between the two.
The woman has been reported by several media outlets as a 36-year-old lobbyist for Sempra Energy. Duvall, who is 54, reported to Miller that he had jokingly told the woman that “I am going to have to trade you in.”
He then went on to brag about a second mistress on the videotape, apparently unaware that the microphone in front of him was live. The videotaping of committee meetings is a routine practice by the legislative office.
Duvall, who is married with two adult children, lives with his wife in Yorba Linda, California when he is not in session in Sacramento. In his resignation, he said that it would not be fair to his family, friends or constituents to remain in office.
“I am deeply saddened that my inappropriate comments have become a major distraction for my colleagues in the Assembly, who are working hard on the very serious problems facing our state,” said Duvall. “Therefore, I have decided to resign my office, effective immediately, so that the Assembly can get back to work.”
Elected in 2006 as the representative from an Orange County district that includes Yorba Linda, Anaheim, and other cities, Duvall had previously served for six years on the Yorba Linda City Council and is also the owner of an insurance company.
The scandal has also raised concerns over the relationship between lawmakers and lobbyists, and the Assembly Ethics Committee is investigating the comments to ascertain whether or not his affair with the lobbyist may have influenced his votes, since he was vice chairman of the Assembly Utilities Committee.
Sempra Energy, a San Diego-based energy services company has issues an e-mail saying that will look into the claims that the woman in question was a Sempra Employee, and to ensure that employee conduct policies are enforced.
During the 2007-2008 legislative session, Duvall received a 100 percent rating from Capitol Resource Institute, a conservative advocacy group, for his “pro-family” legislative votes.
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