Hot Mike Duvall — who stepped down as a state lawmaker after his raucous sexual braggadocio was picked up by a live microphone — is getting off.
The California Republican won’t face federal charges in connection to the incident, the local U.S. attorney’s office announced today.
As you’ll no doubt remember, the married Duvall was caught on tape lewdly boasting to a colleague about his affairs with two women, one of whom was quickly identified as a lobbyist for an energy company with business before the committee of which Duvall was vice chair.
The woman, Heidi Barsuglia, has denied having an affair with Duvall. And Duvall himself has subsequently appeared also to deny a sexual relationship, saying only that he was guilty of “inappropriate story-telling.”
Barsuglia had been placed on temporary leave from Sempra Energy pending an investigation. But Sempra said today it has reinstated her as an active employment. And
Barsuglia released a statement saying: “This experience has been a professional and personal nightmare. I did nothing whatsoever illegal or unethical with former Assemblyman Duvall or anyone else.”
But this may not be the end of it for the sophomoric lawmaker. Barsuglia’s lawyer told the Los Angeles Times that he wouldn’t rule out suing Duvall.
He said Barsuglia “has been defamed in monumental proportions,” and added: “Her reputation, her job and her exemplary career have all been placed in jeopardy by Duvall’s disgusting remarks.”
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