The House Ethics Committee launched an investigation into Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) over sexual misconduct allegations, making him the latest member to face investigation as scandal roils Capitol Hill. Gomez is under investigation for allegedly kissing a congressional aide outside of a party in Washington.
The House Ethics Committee told CNN they had begun the early stages of an investigation after an April New York Post story alleged the congressman was seen kissing the aide. Gomez, who faces a primary from Justice Democrats-backed Angela Gonzales-Torres in Tuesday’s primary, said he did not violate any House ethics laws but acknowledged he had made mistakes in his marriage.
“Years ago, I made personal mistakes outside my marriage that have caused real pain to my wife and family. Although my actions were consensual in nature and haven’t violated the law or House ethics rules, that doesn’t diminish the impact that these mistakes have made on those I care about the most,” Gomez said in a statement to CNN.
“I take full responsibility and have committed myself to working through the pain privately with my wife and family,” he said. “I sought professional assistance to help re-center and heal the relationships that mean everything to me, and move forward with the honesty, transparency, and respect that everyone deserves from the people they love. I continue to do this work.”
The lower chamber has had three recent investigations that led to resignations earlier this year. The talks of revamping workplace culture on Capitol Hill heightened last month after then-Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX) resigned over allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell has denied wrongdoing. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) resigned after an ethics panel found her guilty of 25 violations as she faced charges for stealing Federal Emergency Management Agency funds.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) told reporters Tuesday that he was unaware if the California Democrat was under investigation.
“I have not had any conversation with him, and I’m unaware of whether he’s under an investigation or not,” Jeffries said. “I’ve seen those public reports on my way into the Capitol. They obviously take these things seriously, but I haven’t had any conversation with the Ethics Committee.”
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The House Ethics Committee revealed in a public statement earlier this year that, since 2017, it has conducted 20 investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct from House members. The panel also released a list of all public matters it has investigated involving members’ alleged sexual misconduct, with 15 instances since 2017.
The House Ethics Committee declined to comment to the Washington Examiner and Gomez’s office did not reply.