The congressman is being investigated for sexual misconduct
The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Democratic California Rep. Jimmy Gomez Monday over sexual misconduct allegations. Gomez was accused in June of kissing a much […]
The House Ethics Committee said Monday that it is investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.). The panel said in a statement that it is “reviewing allegations” that Gomez “may have engaged in sexual misconduct in violation of the Code of Official Conduct or any other applicable standard of conduct, including engaging…
'Years ago, I made personal mistakes outside my marriage that have caused real pain to my wife and family'
The House Ethics Committee announced Monday that it is investigating Congressman Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) over allegations of sexual misconduct.Why it matters: Gomez is the latest House member to face scrutiny over alleged sexual misconduct amid a string of incidents that have prompted calls to tighten Congress' rules.Gomez said in a statement that he's made "personal mistakes outside my marriage," but said his actions were "consensual" and did not violate the law or House Ethics rules. "I take full responsibility and have committed myself to working through the pain privately with my wife and family. I sought professional assistance to help re-center and heal my relationships and move forward with honesty, transparency, and respect," Gomez said, adding he plans to cooperate with the committee's probe.Driving the news: The committee said in a statement that it is reviewing allegations that Gomez "engaged in sexual misconduct in violation of the Code of Official Conduct or any other applicable standard of conduct, including engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer."The committee provided no further details about the allegations. CNN reported in June that the panel was investigating Gomez, including over an alleged romantic relationship he had in 2023 with an aide who worked for another member of Congress. Gomez, 51, has been married since 2011.The big picture: House rules do not currently bar members of Congress from having relationships with staffers outside their own offices, but the bipartisan sexual misconduct task force is weighing whether to recommend banning all lawmaker-staffer sexual relationships.House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) endorsed such a ban last month, telling Axios: "I think it's inappropriate, as it would be in any workplace."Zoom out: Congress has faced a series of sexual misconduct scandals and investigations this year.Two lawmakers — Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) — resigned earlier this year amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell also faces allegations of sexual assault. Swalwell has denied the allegations. Gonzales admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.Ethics concluded that Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) violated House rules over sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment, and recommended his censure earlier this month. Edwards has denied any wrongdoing.Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) is also under an Ethics investigation for allegations that center on domestic abuse, stolen valor and financial misconduct, all of which he denies.The bottom line: The Ethics panel's investigations can take months, sometimes years, to yield formal reports or disciplinary recommendations.Editor's note: This story has been updated with comment from Rep. Gomez.
The California Democrat said that he had “made personal mistakes outside my marriage” and that he will cooperate with the investigation.
The California Democrat said he’d “made personal mistakes outside my marriage” but said he hadn’t violated the law or House Ethics rules.
The allegations include "engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer," according to the committee.
The California Democrat has admitted to "personal mistakes" outside of his marriage, but also says his actions were consensual in nature did not violate House Ethics rules.