Asm. Joaquin Arambula (D–Fresno) is disputing the claim from his wife that he failed a drug test.
The lawmaker filed a declaration in their divorce case detailing his extensive drug testing, contesting the view presented by Elizabeth Arambula in her declaration filed last week.
Driving the news: In her declaration, Elizabeth Arambula claimed her husband failed a voluntary drug test.
- She claimed Joaquin Arambula missed a drug test and subsequently submitted a diluted result, which is considered a failed test by the standards he proposed with the court.
The other side: Joaquin Arambula directly contends his wife’s claim that he failed a drug test. In his declaration, he said he has tested four times a day soon after completing his rehab program in early February, totaling 266 times.
- He said he was late by a minute only one time and tested twice within the next half hour, both times producing negative results. Those tests were conducted through Soberlink Monitoring.
- The declaration states that he switched to Express Labs and Diagnostic on March 20 due to Elizabeth Arambula’s request that his tests be witnessed. Joaquin Arambula said he has had eight tests, all of which have come back negative. He said he has never missed a test.
- He has tested twice per week over the last month, noting that the negative dilute result came on March 28. He also said that the negative dilute test came “after hydrating post-workout.”
- “My string of negative tests should provide assurance that I remain sober,” Joaquin Arambula said in his declaration.
- Noting that all drug testing has been voluntary, he said he will comply if the court orders Soberlink monitoring or random witnessed tests.
- The operations manager at Express Labs also submitted a declaration, signed on Thursday, stating that none of the nine tests Joaquin Arambula have taken have been positive.
Looking at the money: One of Elizabeth Arambula’s main points of contention was centered on her husband moving over $900,000 out of a shared account in January.
- Joaquin Arambula said in his declaration that he moved over $919,000 from their joint account to a new account on Jan. 21, five days before Elizabeth Arambula filed for divorce. The funds can be traced to separate property distributions he received after his grandfather’s passing.
- He said he moved the funds due to concerns they were being rapidly depleted, pointing out three payments to American Express totaling nearly $30,000, as well as $13,865 that he had to pay to close out their American Express account.
- Joaquin Arambula accused his wife of cherry-picking the most advantageous time periods to calculate her spousal and child support requests. He noted that his grandfather passed away in 2021 and his grandmother gave a cautionary notice to all of her grandchildren that there will be no other funds forthcoming.
- “Unfortunately, we both now need to be more frugal because my current income can’t support our former standard of living,” Joaquin Arambula said in his declaration. “Sadly, most distributions and gifts I received have already been consumed, and there are no other funds beyond my salary which I expect to receive, and on which I can rely, to maintain our two households.”
- He said his wife would totally dissipate his remaining assets to support a lifestyle that was never realistic, sustainable and “grandiose,” which is how Elizabeth Arambula described their lifestyle.
- “I made a mistake in trusting [Elizabeth Arambula], a compulsive shopper,” he wrote. “We should have been more prudent with the gifts and distributions I received and at least set aside funds for our children’s education. To continue to spend lavishly with no regard for our children’s future is irresponsible.”
- Joaquin Arambula also contested his wife’s claim that they had $1.7 million in deposits last year. He stated that there was nearly $160,000 deposited, a $25,000 gift, nearly $1.1 million in proceeds from the sale of their Sacramento home and around $440,000 in internal transfers, which he notes are not taxable.
- Joaquin Arambula also disputed Elizabeth Arambula’s claims that he spent $26,000 on dressers, mattresses and a bedframe. He said his wife has a receipt confirming that the items were purchased on clearance for $5,500.
What they’re saying: Joaquin Arambula’s attorney Kim Aguirre told The Sun in an email Thursday evening that there is not an official drug testing agreement.
- “There is no court order,” Aguirre said. “There is no violation. Dr. Arambula’s actions are all voluntary. If he were trying to beat the test he could not have taken the test. There is no requirement that he test on any particular day or at all. There are no positive tests. There are no missed tests.”
What we’re watching: Joaquin Arambula and Elizabeth Arambula are scheduled to appear in court Friday afternoon for a hearing on spousal and child support.
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