LA Rep. Jimmy Gomez is reportedly facing a House investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct
WASHINGTON — Democratic Representative Jimmy Gomez of Los Angeles is reportedly being investigated by the House Ethics Committee regarding allegations of sexual misconduct.
The investigation comes after the New York Post reported in April that the 51-year-old, five years younger, was seen kissing a much younger congressional staffer from another office in 2023.
According to CNN, which on Tuesday first reported the news of the investigation, the congressional committee found other allegations of sexual misconduct as it investigated the report of Gomez’s behavior in 2023 with this employee.
Gomez was friends with former California Rep. Eric Swalwell, who resigned from Congress earlier this year and suspended his California gubernatorial campaign after several women accused him of sexual harassment. Gomez had been one of Swalwell’s campaign organizers.
The 2023 incident with Gomez and a young employee reportedly happened at an event hosted by Swalwell, according to the New York Post. Gomez’s office denied the report at the time.
Another lawmaker, Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, also resigned from Congress in April after allegations of sexual misconduct with a former employee who took his own life.
Both Swalwell and Gonzales were investigated by the ethics committee before they resigned, but that investigation ended when they left as the committee has the authority to investigate sitting members.
Gomez’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment, but, in a statement sent to CNN, Gomez said he would cooperate with the ethics investigation. While admitting he made “personal mistakes” outside of his marriage and apologizing to his family, he said his actions did not violate the House’s code of conduct.
“Over the years, I have made personal mistakes outside of my marriage that have caused real pain to my wife and family.” “Although my actions were lawful in nature and did not violate the law or House rules of procedure, that does not lessen the impact these mistakes made on those I care about the most,” said Gomez.
The House Ethics Committee declined to comment on the reported investigation.
Gomez is married to Mary Hodge, a former top aide to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. The couple has a son who Gomez wore babysitting during the long run for speaker of the House in 2023. That same year, Gomez founded the Congressional Dads Caucus, which has advocated for increased child tax credits and other parent-friendly legislation.
The revelation of the congressional investigation comes as Gomez faces a campaign challenge from Angela Gonzales-Torres, a Pasadena City College counselor with the support of Justice Democrats.
Gonzales-Torres criticized Gomez for having the support of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, even though Gomez has sometimes made political decisions at odds with the group.
After news of the ethics investigation emerged, Gonzales-Torres wrote on social media X, “I take political corruption seriously … and I take very seriously what seems to be a culture in Congress where men abuse women.
“If @RepJimmyGomez has nothing to hide, he shouldn’t be concerned. But if there is criminal behavior he witnessed, participated in, or helped cover up, we will find out and help ensure accountability and justice.”
Gomez was first elected to Congress in a 2017 special election to succeed Xavier Becerra, who is running for governor and has seen a huge surge in support following Swalwell’s exit from the race in April.
Gomez served in the state assembly from 2012 to 2017 and was the political director of the United Nurses Assn. of California before that.
