Los Angeles News

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CBS) ― Heidi De Jong Barsuglia, a lobbyist implicated in the growing scandal surrounding former O.C. Assemblyman Mike Duvall, has been put on temporary leave by her employer, Sempra Energy, it was revealed Friday.

Meanwhile, the company launched their own investigation into the allegations.

Sempra issued an e-mail statement earlier in the week.

"The employee has denied the speculative media reports. Our investigation will be conducted to ensure not only that our policies on employee conduct are strictly adhered to, but also that our employee is treated fairly," the company said.

Duvall, a pro-family values California lawmaker, who resigned after being caught on tape boasting about sexual conquests, denied Thursday that he had extramarital affairs, saying that "my offense was engaging in inappropriate storytelling."

Mike Duvall of Yorba Linda stepped down Wednesday after his comments were caught on an open microphone in a Capitol hearing room and reported by CBS 2 and KCAL 9 Tuesday.

But Duvall said Thursday that his "decision to resign is in no way an admission that I had an affair or affairs."

Prior to the start of a committee meeting in Sacramento held earlier this summer, the 54-year-old lawmaker is heard talking to Republican Assemblyman Jeff Miller of Corona about the sensitive subject into a hot microphone.

He reportedly brags about having sex with a woman, who is "19 years younger..."

At the end of the conversation, Duvall mentions a second woman.

The videotape is courtesy of the in-house television station used by the State Legislature.

According to sources, the women Duvall is referring to are both married and both lobbyists in Sacramento.

Duvall, who is married with two adult children, received a 100 percent rating from a conservative advocacy group for his votes on legislation considered pro-family.

He represented parts of Yorba Linda, Fullerton, Anaheim, Placentia and Orange in Orange County.

Before resigning, Duvall apologized for the comments on his campaign Web site and said he made a mistake.

"I deeply regret the comments I made in what I believed to be a private conversation," he said. "This is a private matter and I ask that everyone respect the privacy of all involved."

Duvall's Assembly office was locked Wednesday, and a telephone number listed for a Michael and Susan Duvall in Yorba Linda was disconnected.

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass asked the Assembly Ethics Committee to investigate. She called it "a very sad day" and said Duvall was well-liked.

"I did speak with him and he was extremely remorseful and regretful," Bass told reporters during a news conference called to address Duvall's resignation. "We have such big issues before the Legislature and to have this become a distraction, he felt his responsibility was to step aside."

Bass also removed Jeff Miller from the ethics committee on Thursday and appointed Assembly member Nathan Fletcher for the remainder of the 2009-10 Regular Session.

Shannon Murphy, a spokeswoman for the Assembly speaker, said Miller should not sit on the panel that is investigating a conversation in which he participated.

Assembly Minority Leader Sam Blakeslee also had asked Duvall to step down as a member of the Republican caucus leadership before he resigned Wednesday.

"Mr. Duvall recognized his inappropriate comments would be an endless source of distraction for this institution, and out of respect for his colleagues and love for his family decided to resign," Blakeslee said in a statement. "I respect his decision to put his family first during this difficult time."

Duvall was elected in 2006 to represent an Orange County district that includes Fullerton, Anaheim, Placentia, Orange, Brea and Yorba Linda. Before that, he served six years on the Yorba Linda City Council. He also owns an insurance agency.

 Watch Duvall's Taped Conversation About Alleged Affairs (Mature Content)

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