TPMMuckraker

Duvall Denies “Reports That He Had An Affair”

Zachary Roth September 10, 2009, 10:10 AM

Mike Duvall now seems to be denying having affairs with the two women he was caught bragging about sleeping with.

In a new statement on his campaign website, Duvall writes:

Assemblyman Duvall Denies Reports that He Had Affair
I want to make it clear that my decision to resign is in no way an admission that I had an affair or affairs. My offense was engaging in inappropriate story-telling and I regret my language and choice of words. The resulting media coverage was proving to be an unneeded distraction to my colleagues and I resigned in the hope that my decision would allow them to return to the business of the state.

The title of the statement seems to be an outright denial. But the body is less clear, suggesting only that he hasn’t admitted to the affairs — which is not quite the same as denying them.

The confusion might be explained by Duvall’s possible concern that he may be in legal jeopardy, if an ethics probe finds that he traded votes for sex. That concern may explain his carefully worded denial.

More soon…