Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who is seeking reelection to a Los Angeles-area House seat, is being investigated by the House Ethics Committee over allegations of sexual misconduct, including allegedly “engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer.”
Gomez, in a statement, acknowledged making “personal mistakes” in the past but insisted he hadn’t violated any law or House Ethics rules.
“Years ago, I made personal mistakes outside my marriage. 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, a Democrat, said.
“I take full responsibility and have committed myself to working through the pain privately with my wife and family,” he continued. “I sought professional assistance to help re-center and heal my relationships and move forward with honesty, transparency, and respect. I continue to do this work.”
Gomez went on to say he respects the House committee’s process and intends to cooperate with its probe.
Committee Chairman Michael Guest, a Mississippi Republican, and Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier, a Democrat from California, announced the investigation on Monday, Aug. 17, more than two months after reports surfaced about a possible ethics probe.
In the announcement, Guest and DeSaulnier noted that “the mere fact that it is investigating these allegations, and publicly disclosing its review, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred.”
Gomez was first elected to Congress in 2017 to represent a part of Los Angeles that includes downtown, Boyle Heights, East L.A. and Highland Park.
Gomez was the top vote-getter in the race for California’s 34th Congressional District in the June primary election, capturing 45.99% of the vote. He will face Angela Gonzales-Torres, another Democrat who came in second with 30.7%, in the November runoff election.
Before Gomez’s election to Congress, he served more than four years in the California Assembly.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.