Federal authorities said today that they will not file charges in connection with tapes in which ex-Assemblyman Mike Duvall brags about sexual trysts with two women who are reportedly lobbyists.
Duvall, a married Republican, resigned in September after the comments, made during a July Assembly committee hearing and recorded by a hot microphone, surfaced in several news reports. The Yorba Linda Republican has since said his resignation is not an admission that he had affairs, characterizing his offense instead as "inappropriate storytelling."
Today's statement, issued by United States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown and FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Drew Parenti, said that the preliminary investigation had concluded and that its finding did not warrant "prosecutive action" from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The FBI confirmed last month that agents had contacted two Duvall aides following his resignation. At the time, an agent characterized the investigation as "preliminary."
Government watchdog groups have called on various law enforcement agencies to investigate whether the actions detailed in the tape could qualify as "sex for votes" or other criminal offenses relating to the Political Reform Act.
But the California Attorney General's office said there was not evidence any laws had been broken, and an Assembly ethics panel query was halted after legislative counsel said the committee could not investigate the actions of a former lawmaker once he or she has left office. A request that the Fair Political Practices Commission investigate whether the alleged mistresses violated the Political Reform Act was also denied.
UPDATE 2:12 p.m.: The utilities company lobbyist identified in media reports as the woman described in the tapes issued a statement through her attorney denying allegations of an affair and calling her experience a "nightmare." Read that story here.
Torey Van Oot and the Bee Capitol Bureau report on the people and politics of California government. Get 
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.