California Assemblyman Michael Duvall Resigns After Boasting of How He Sleeps With Lobbyists

Republican California Assemblyman Michael D. Duvall has resigned shortly after the release of the video below where he brags in disgusting and graphic detail about sleeping with lobbyists in his office. The conservative politician who was known for campaigning on family and Christian values may now return to selling insurance with his partner . . . his wife.

I have refrained from publishing a transcript of the initial part of the comments by Duvall (unwittingly made into a live mic) because they are shocking and gross. You may listen to the tape at your own risk. As noted earlier, it is astonishing that Duvall felt comfortable discussing such an encounter, which says something about the legislative culture in the California state legislature.

After the most disgusting part of his comments, the married father of two then continues to add: “So, I am getting into spanking her. Yeah, I like it. I like spanking her. She goes, ‘I know you like spanking me.’ I said, ‘Yeah! Because you’re such a bad girl!” [Laughing] And so her birthday was Monday,” he said at the Wednesday, July 8 committee hearing. “I was 54 on June 14, so for a month, she was 19 years younger than me. I said, ‘Now, you’re getting old. I am going to have to trade you in.’ And she goes, ‘[I’m] 36.’ She is 18 years younger than me. And so I keep teasing her, and she goes, ‘I know you French men. You divide your age by
two and add seven, and if you’re older than that, you dump us.'”

Duvall is vice chairman of the Assembly’s powerful Committee on Utilities & Commerce and one site has named ” veteran Sacramento-based lobbyist Heidi DeJong Barsuglia turned 36 years old on Monday, July 6.” Here is her lobbyist page and picture. She works as a lobbyist for Sempra Energy, which has supported Duvall with campaign contributions. She is a lawyer and previously worked as a speechwriter for former California Governor Pete Wilson. She also held an important post with the California Retailers Association. Her company issued the following statement:

Sempra Energy takes very seriously any reports involving the conduct of our employees. We are investigating this matter and the recent media reports that named one of our employees. The employee has denied the speculative media reports. Our investigation will be conducted to ensure not only that our policies on employee conduct are strictly adhered to, but also that our employee is treated fairly.

What makes this tape even more amazing is that it was just two days after Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Republican leader Sam Blakeslee put Duvall on the Rules Committee that handles ethical violations, here.

Of course, such attitudes are not exactly unique to California. You will recall our recent tape of the Speaker of the Alaskan House of Representatives saying that he would gladly sell his soul to the devil to keep oil companies happy, here.

In his statement of resignation, Duvall says nothing about his sleeping with lobbyists:

“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. I have come to the conclusion that it would not be fair to my family, my constituents or to my friends on both sides of the aisle to remain in office. Therefore, I have decided to resign my office, effective immediately, so that the Assembly can get back to work.”

Another apology appears on his campaign site, here.
For the story, click here and here and here.