Assemblyman Resigns After Bragging About Sex With Lobbyists on Open Mike

An Orange County lawmaker, Assemblyman Mike Duvall (R-Yorba Linda) abruptly resigned from office this afternoon. He had inadvertently broadcast explicit remarks about his sexual conquests over an open microphone during a slow period in a Sacramento hearing.

Mike Duvall, a married conservative with two adult children, had previously received a 100% rating from Capitol Resource Institute, a conservative advocacy group for his votes on legislation considered pro-family. CRI denounced Duvall today, after the news broke.

Worse, the two women that Duvall refers to in his taped comments are both married and both lobbyists in Sacramento. One works for a firm, which represents utility companies. Mike Duvall was vice-chairman of the Utilities and Commerce Committee.

Prior to his resignation, in a statement on his campaign website, Duvall wrote:

I made a mistake and i sincerely apologize. I deeply regret the comments I made in what I believed to be a private conversation. This is a private matter and I ask that everyone respect the privacy of all involved.

It stopped being private when lobbyists that may have affected his vote via sex became involved, Mike. One of the lobbyists, the woman who wears the "eye-patch underwear" noted on the tape, is apparently Heidi DeJong Barsuglia, a lobbyist for an energy company, Sempra Energy.

Sempra Energy, where Heidi DeJong Barsuglia works, released the following statement regarding the Mike Duvall report:

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.

A progressive California group, the Courage Campaign, is calling for an investigation into whether Mike Duvall sold his votes for sex. They said:

"A vice-chairman of the Committee on Utilities and Commerce was literally in bed with Sempra Energy's lobbyist. Assemblyman Duvall's 'sex for votes' affairs have cheated Californians out of honest government. We call on the attorney general to investigate Mr. Duvall to see if he can be prosecuted for selling his votes."

Listen to Mike Duvall's comments via this video report.