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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Powkat
November 2, 2009 7:07 PM
So he was screwing one woman he wasn't married to, but maybe not two? And this lets him off the hook because . . . . ? Looks like IOKIYAR to me.
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Nebton
November 3, 2009 9:22 AM in reply to Powkat
To be fair, it's perfectly legal to screw as many women as you like (assuming consent). The problem was that he was (supposedly) screwing a lobbyist. The other woman didn't matter because she wasn't a lobbyist.
And, he still stepped down, so I'm guessing his political career is over.
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candideyam
November 2, 2009 7:15 PM
Hot Mike is getting off. LMAO. Les mots justes!
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GayIthacan
November 2, 2009 7:33 PM
I'm not sure what 'hook' he is now 'off', since he resigned his job - but was never in any criminal trouble, since the last time i checked, screwing someone not your spouse is not illegal.
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Kuyleh
November 2, 2009 7:37 PM in reply to GayIthacan
My memory may be buggy, but wasn't at least one of them a lobbyist? And isn't that illegal?
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Prefabfan
November 3, 2009 12:37 AM
Rest assured that civil suit the lawyer threatens will NEVER materialize. Especially since it takes only 1 hour to draft and file the thing by fax, he would have done it.
Those depositions!
"Mam, who have you slept with outside marraige?". Pefectly allowable to determine damages.
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Dave Bowman
November 3, 2009 11:19 AM
You know they gotta keep 'Bizness As Usual' going in Sacto. Nevermind the rest of the state.
U.S. Atty. Lawrence Brown was a Bush appointee, so go figure.
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