A California lawmaker who resigned after he was caught on tape bragging about his sexual exploits with two women, one of them reportedly a lobbyist, denied on Thursday that he was having extramarital affairs.

Mike Duvall stepped down from the California Assembly on Wednesday, one day after a videotape surfaced in which the married legislator is heard telling a colleague that he enjoys spanking one of the women -- who he boasts is 18 years younger and favors skimpy, eye-patch sized underwear.

I want to make it clear that my decision to resign is in no way an admission that I had an affair or affairs, Duvall, a 54-year-old family-values Republican from Orange County, said in a statement posted on his website.

My offense was engaging in inappropriate storytelling and I regret my language and choice of words. The resulting media coverage was proving to be an unneeded distraction to my colleagues and I resigned in the hope that my decision would allow them to return to the business of the state, he said.

Duvall's conversation with fellow Assemblyman Jeff Miller was caught on an open microphone during a break in a videotaped July committee hearing and broadcast on local KCAL-TV on Tuesday, prompting legislative leaders to open an ethics investigation.

On the tape, Duvall is heard recounting a recent sexual encounter with the woman who he calls eyepatches because of her preference for tiny undergarments.

So, I've been getting into spanking her, Duvall is heard to say, adding: She goes, 'I know you like spanking me' (and) I said 'Yeah, that's 'cause you're such a bad girl.'

The second-term lawmaker mentions that her birthday is July 6, matching the birth date of a lobbyist for Sempra Energy who has been identified in media reports as the woman he is discussing.

Duvall had been vice chairman of the Assembly Utilities Committee, which considers energy legislation.

Sempra Energy takes very seriously any reports involving the conduct of our employees, Sempra said. We are investigating this matter and the recent reports that named one of our employees. 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.

Duvall mentions a second woman on the tape, who he says is hot. He says the woman had asked him if they were finished. He told her no, adding that:You know about the other one but the other one doesn't know about you.

California