A southern California state lawmaker resigned Wednesday, amid outrage over a videotape that shows him bragging about his sexual escapades.
He describes in graphic detail trysts with a female lobbyist and also with another woman.
“This is obviously a very sad day in this house,” said State Assembly Speaker Karen Bass.
Just hours after sitting on the assembly floor, Republican Assemblyman Mike Duvall resigned.
“I spoke at some length with Mr. Duvall earlier this morning. And got a better appreciation for the profound sense of regret he has experienced and continues to experience with regard to his inappropriate comments,” said Minority Leader Sam Blakeslee.
Comments Duvall made during a break in an appropriations committee hearing in July.
The microphone on the desk was hot, capturing Duvall talking about a woman believed to be a lobbyist.
“She wears little eye-patch underwear. So the other day she came here with her underwear, Thursday. And? So, we had made love, Wednesday, a lot!” you can hear Duvall say.
Duvall is married with two grown children.
“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,” Duvall carried on.
Duvall also mentions cheating on this lobbyist with another woman.
Despite the resignation, the assembly leadership immediately launched an ethics committee investigation.
“Clearly on a personal level, the comments were inappropriate,” said Assembly Member Paul Kerkorian.
Duvall was vice-chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
The lobbyist reportedly works for southern California-based Sempra Energy.
Sempra says in a statement, “We are investigating this matter and the recent media reports that named one of our employees.”
The employee has denied the speculative media reports.
A government watchdog group says there needs to be more aggressive lobbyist oversight.
“The way the conversation came up in sort of this locker room style conversation with another member, right before a committee hearing, suggests that it isn’t that unusual an event. And that’s probably the most troubling thing,” said Derek Cressman of the group Common Cause.
Duvall avoided cameras Wednesday while his staffers quietly left their office.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has fourteen days to call a special election, to fill Duvall’s seat.
The earliest date would be November 3rd.