A Republican state legislator from the Central Valley is calling for the CEO of California\u2019s High-Speed Rail Authority to be fired because of his recent arrest and his fianc\u00e9e\u2019s employment with a company contracted by the rail authority.<\/p>\n
Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo, R-Tulare, sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom and rail authority Board Chair Tom Richards on Wednesday calling CEO Ian Choudri\u2019s continued leadership \u201cuntenable\u201d and an \u201cinsult\u201d to taxpayers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI demand the immediate termination of Ian Choudri,\u201d Macedo wrote. \u201cGiven his arrest and the allegations against him, Mr. Choudri\u2019s continued tenure would irreparably damage the public\u2019s trust in their government.\u201d<\/p>\n
The rail authority declined to comment for this story.<\/p>\n
Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo, R-Tulare, listens at the state Capitol during the Assembly’s first meeting of the new legislative session on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. Paul Kitagaki Jr. pkitagaki@sacbee.com <\/p>\n
Choudri and his fianc\u00e9e, Lyudmyla Starostyuk, were both arrested outside their Folsom home earlier this month after someone called police, accusing Starostyuk of pulling Choudri\u2019s 17-year-old daughter\u2019s hair and locking her out of the house, The Sacramento Bee reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n Choudri was quickly released, and the Sacramento County District Attorney\u2019s Office told The Sacramento Bee it did not find sufficient evidence to charge him with a crime. His attorney said authorities considered the legal matter to be finished. Choudri has since gone on voluntary leave from the rail authority while the California State Transportation Agency investigates the incident.<\/p>\n The Sacramento Bee also reported Starostyuk recently began working as an advisory manager for KPMG, a company with a $24 million contract from the rail authority for financial advisory services. The rail authority has said the company confirmed Starostyuk has performed no work under the contract and also will not do so in the future.<\/p>\n Macedo\u2019s letter demanding Choudri\u2019s termination goes on to criticize the high-speed rail project\u2019s renewed state financing commitment \u2014 $1 billion per year through 2045 that she says should instead be spent on water infrastructure and wildfire prevention. Macedo and other Central Valley Republicans have often criticized high-speed rail.<\/p>\n Rail authority Chief of Staff Mark Tollefson is temporarily in charge of the rail authority\u2019s day-to-day operations, according to The Sacramento Bee. It\u2019s not yet clear when Choudri will return to work.<\/p>\n Choudri, one of the state\u2019s highest-paid employees<\/a>, joined the rail authority in 2024. During his tenure, the rail authority has put forth new ideas intended to quicken the pace of the historically slow-moving project, including specific partnerships with private investors and changes to a law requiring a focus on the Central Valley.<\/p>\n The Sacramento Bee reported he is using his available paid time off balance during his temporary leave. It\u2019s not yet clear when he will return to work.<\/p>\n This story was originally published February 25, 2026 at 1:24 PM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Fresno Bee<\/p>\n California High Speed Rail CEO Ian Choudri is interviewed by the California McClatchy Editorial Board Wednesday, July 30, 2025 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com <\/p>\n
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