Ian Choudri, CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, was arrested at his home on February 4 on suspicion of domestic battery. On Tuesday, February 17, he took administrative leave.
SACRAMENTO— The head of California’s High-Speed Rail Authority took a voluntary leave of absence Tuesday after news reports circulated about his recent arrest on suspicion of domestic violence against a husband.
Ian Choudri was arrested Feb. 4 at his Folsom home in the 500 block of Borges Court.
The rail authority said in a statement Tuesday that Choudri agreed to take a temporary leave of absence so the board and the California State Transportation Agency can review and assess the situation.
Choudri’s attorney said Monday that the Sacramento County District Attorney’s office declined to file charges in the case. Police were called to Choudri’s home by a third party, Choudri’s lawyer told The Times.
“This matter is over and no further action will be taken,” said Allen Sawyer, who represents Choudri.
The Public Prosecution Service did not respond to a request for comment.
Choudri is one of the highest-paid state employees in California, earning $563,000 last year, according to payroll data The Times obtained from the state comptroller’s office.
The High-Speed Rail Authority did not answer a question on whether Choudri would receive wages during his absence.
The board of directors will meet on March 4.
The day before his arrest, Choudri had appeared in Kern County with Gov. Gavin Newsom to announce the completion of a 150-acre facility that would serve as a hub for construction of the San Joaquin Valley high-speed rail project.
California’s grand vision for a bullet train, which would originally connect San Francisco to Los Angeles, has become a flashpoint in national politics.
President Trump and Republicans have used the billions of dollars in cost overruns and slow progress to portray the project as a Democratic hoax and a waste of taxpayer dollars.
Newsom, eager to show some progress before leaving office, has refocused construction on building a segment from Merced to Bakersfield. His office said earlier this month that 199 kilometers were under construction and 58 structures, including bridges, overpasses and viaducts, had been completed.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority’s board of directors approved Choudri as CEO in August 2024. Newsom praised the decision and touted his more than 30 years of experience in the transportation industry.
Choudri replaced former CEO Brian Kelly, who retired. Choudri joins the agency from HNTB Corp., an infrastructure design firm where he previously served as senior vice president.
Choudri did not respond to requests for comment. Newsom’s office directed questions to the High-Speed Rail Authority.
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