Speaker Karen Bass today temporarily recused Assemblyman Jeff Miller from the Ethics Committee that is investigating Mike Duvall’s actions. Presumably that’s because it was Miller to whom Duvall was regaling with his sexcapades in the infamous video, and bass feels there would be some sort of conflict.
But what about Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, who is the co-chair fo the Ethics Commitee? Here he is at a California Against Waste event with ith Heidi Barsuglia, the lobbyist with whom Duvall was (allegedly) having an affair:
Somehow, I don’t think Speaker Bass will be quite so sensitive to appearances off conflicts in this instance.
[Don’t bother looking for the photo: it’s been dropped down the memory hole].
September 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am
The difference is that there is an investigation going on as to exactly what was said and whether or not there were potential conflicts with state business. Becuase he was the person Duvall was talking with, Assemblyman Miller is a potential witness in that case, so he temporarily has to be moved. There is no criticism implied by the move itself I don’t think.
September 11th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Someone gets their picture taken with a lobbyist and it’s a conflict? Spare me. If that were the case, not a single legislator could be on the ethics committee.
Assemblymember Miller and his staff are directly involved in this mess.
On the other hand, Assemblymember Krekorian has a reputation has fair and honest, and has worked with GOP leader Blakeslee on a number of issues.