High-speed rail leader on leave after news of arrest for suspicion of domestic battery

"Choudri's attorney said Monday that the Sacramento district attorney's office declined to file charges in the case. Police were called to Choudri's home by a third-party, Choudri's attorney told The Times. "This matter is over and no further action will be taken," said Allen Sawyer, who is representing Choudri. The Sacramento district attorney's office did not respond to a request for comment."

"The authority said in a statement Tuesday that Choudri agreed to take a temporary leave to allow its board of directors and the California State Transportation Agency to review and assess the situation. Choudri is among the highest-paid state employees in California, having earned $563,000 last year, according to payroll records obtained by The Times from the state controller's office. The High Speed Rail Authority did not answer a question about whether Choudri would receive pay during his absence."

"The day before his arrest, Choudri had appeared with Gov. Gavin Newsom in Kern County to announce the completion of a 150-acre facility that would serve as a hub for construction of the high-speed rail project in San Joaquin Valley. California's grand vision for a bullet train, originally to connect San Francisco to Los Angeles, has become a flash point in national politics. President Donald Trump and Republicans have seized on the billions of dollars in cost overruns and slow progress to cast the project as a Democratic boon"

Ian Choudri, CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, was arrested Feb. 4 at his Folsom home on suspicion of domestic battery. The authority said Choudri agreed to take a temporary leave to allow its board of directors and the California State Transportation Agency to review and assess the situation. Choudri's attorney said the Sacramento district attorney's office declined to file charges after police were called by a third party. Choudri earned $563,000 last year, placing him among the highest-paid state employees. The authority did not answer whether he would be paid during his absence. The board is scheduled to meet March 4.

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