SPD closes Mathis investigation
‘Unable to substantiate a crime occurred’
The Sacramento Police Department announced Thursday that they have closed their investigation into sexual assault charges made against Assemblyman Devon Mathis. “Information was given to us on Oct. 19 concerning [Mathis], and the allegations were investigated by our department. However, detectives were unable to substantiate that a crime occurred, so at this time the case has been closed,” said Officer Linda Matthew of the Sacramento PD public information office.
The Assemblyman’s office did not return a call requesting comment on the announcement.
Joseph Turner, political activist who runs the conservative political blog American Children First, informed Sacramento PD of the allegations last month. Turner reported that sources had informed him that Mathis and several staff members had gone out drinking and returned to the home of one of the staff members. There, it was alleged, an inebriated female staff member had gone into a bedroom and passed out on the bed, and Mathis was alleged to have sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious.
The announcement Thursday has now raised concerns with Turner regarding the thoroughness of the investigation performed by Sacramento police.
“I know that the Sacramento PD did not contact me or either of the sources that I provided,” said Turner. “How can you conduct a thorough investigation when the sources that provided the information were never even interviewed or asked questions?”
The announcement does little to change the opinion of the Tulare County Republican Central Committee, however, who issued a resolution earlier this week censuring Mathis for both his public and personal conduct and asking for his immediate resignation.
In addition to disapproving of Mathis’ alleged sexual misconduct, the committee takes exception with documented accounts of alcohol abuse, angry outbursts and inappropriate behavior with young staff members by the Assemblyman, and further claims that Mathis lied to the committee about how he would vote on the recent cap and trade extension.
“We stand by [our resolution]. If [Mathis] wasn’t out drinking and partying in Sacramento all the time and putting himself into those positions where he could be accused of something like that, he wouldn’t have to worry about it,” said Mariann Hedstrom, chairwoman of the TCRCC. “I’ve been involved in politics in this county for more than 25 years, and I’ve never known any of our elected officials that represent us in Sacramento having issues like this.”
Although the announcement is a victory for Mathis, the embattled Assemblyman still faces many hurdles in salvaging his political career and reputation. An investigation into Mathis’ activities by the California State Assembly Rules Committee is currently underway and his political opponents will likely try to capitalize on the recent controversy.
In a press release issued earlier this week, Turner recommended that the state legislature utilize Proposition 50, which allows the legislature to suspend their colleagues without pay and was overwhelmingly passed by voters in June of last year.
“If Mathis will not resign then we would expect his colleagues to suspend him without pay,” said Turner. “It is time that lawmakers stop talking about accountability and take Proposition 50 for a test drive.”