FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula is found not guilty of misdemeanor charge of child abuse, but the debate over whether the charge was politically motivated continues.
On Thursday, Dr. Arambula said he will return to his duties in the state assembly, as the Democrat representing District 31.
He said he will return to his duties as a dad.
“It is time for me to do what I do best as a father – to sit and to play with my girls on the ground, to tuck them into bed tonight, to read them a story and to let them know that their family loves them and will always love them,” said Arambula, during an interview Thursday, after the verdict was announced.
Dr. Arambula’s defense lawyer Michael Ead says the harm done by the accusation is irreparable.
“Where is his reputation? His reputation’s in the toilet, right? “It doesn’t matter what the verdict was in this case. He has to live with this the rest of his life, regardless of what the outcome was,” said Aed in an interview with local media after the trial.
Arambula’s defense said that District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp’s choice to bring the case to court was a political move.
On Friday, Smittcamp responded to Ead’s comment during in an interview on KMJ’s Broeske & Musson Show.
“What would you do if you were in this situation? Absent your relationship with Dr. Arambula, you have a 7-year-old child who says that she was injured by her father, said Smittcamp. “I can’t sleep at night if I don’t file that case because you know what would have been on the other side of it? ‘Lisa Smittcamp didn’t file it because he’s a doctor, Lisa Smittcamp didn’t file it because he’s a politician.”
Smittcamp said her job is to seek truth and justice.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
