Fellow Republicans seek assemblyman's resignation
Monday February 10, 2003FRESNO, Calif. (AP) Some Central Valley Republicans have asked state Assemblyman Steve Samuelian to resign after police stopped him for loitering in an area known as a place to pick up prostitutes.
Fresno police did not issue Samuelian, R-Clovis, a citation for the alleged Feb. 1 incident. Police stopped Samuelian in a state-leased vehicle after he allegedly followed a female in an area known for prostitution, according to reports.
A call to the Fresno City Attorney's office to find out if charges will be filed was not immediately returned Monday.
On Sunday, Central Valley Republican leaders called Samuelian's alleged behavior detrimental to the public office.
``Assemblyman Samuelian's recent indiscretion is reprehensible, and establishes a pattern of behavior that is unbecoming of an elected official,'' wrote U.S. Rep. George Radanovich of Mariposa, for whom Samuelian once worked as district director.
Others criticizing Samuelian include Michael Der Manouel Jr., a state Republican Party executive committee member; U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, and the California Young Republicans of Fresno County.
Christopher Orrock, Samuelian's spokesman, said Republican leaders and young Republicans, who called a news conference at county party headquarters Sunday, have acted prematurely.
``These are liberal Republican groups using the Republican mantra to get on TV and create more divisiveness. There's been no charges filed. There's been no crime committed. There's only a report written two days after an officer gave the Assembly member directions,'' Orrock said.
Officers released Samuelian after he said he got lost trying drop off a flier at the Fresno County Farm Bureau around 9:45 p.m.
Upon further investigation, police recommended Samuelian be cited for loitering for the purpose of soliciting an act of prostitution after a previous arrest.
In September 1998, Samuelian was arrested for asking an undercover officer for oral sex. He had been married about four months earlier. That arrest was in the same area he was seen on Feb. 1. Samuelian paid a $500 fine and completed a one-day diversion program that removed the citation from his record.
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