Scott Bundgaard,(R) the Arizona state Senate majority leader, was involved in a domestic violence dispute this weekend with his girlfriend Aubry Ballard (34).
Phoenix police responded to a report on Friday night that Bundgaard was pulling Ballard out of a car stopped next to the median on State Route 51.
When officers arrived, they found Bundgaard and Ballard, and saw both had marks on their bodies showing they had been in a physical altercation, said Police Department spokesman Sgt. Tommy Thompson.
Bundgaard and Ballard were both detained, but Bundgaard told officers that under Arizona law he is immune from arrest while the legislature is in session, police said. Ballard was booked for domestic violence assault though.
Police found Bundgaard could correctly claim immunity, but the case was submitted to prosecutors for review.
Bundergaard released a statement on Saturday:
“I had no choice but to pull her from the driver’s seat, which resulted in marks on her knees,” Bundgaard said.
“I had also had no choice but to stop her from punching me and risking highway safety, all of which resulted in a black eye for me and a busted lip,” he said.
He added, “I waive any and all ‘legislative immunity.’ If I did something wrong, charge me. I did not.”
