House Ethics Committee announces probe into California Rep. Jimmy Gomez over sexual misconduct allegations

Published Aug 17, 06:21 PM UTC

The House Ethics Committee announced on August 17, 2026, that it is investigating California Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez over sexual misconduct allegations, including inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer. The allegations stem from a 2023 incident where Gomez was reportedly seen kissing a staffer who worked for another member of Congress. Gomez issued a statement acknowledging 'personal mistakes outside my marriage' but asserting his actions were consensual and did not violate House rules or the law. He expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigation. The probe follows similar investigations into other members, including Texas Republican Tony Gonzales and California Democrat Eric Swalwell, who both resigned earlier in 2026. Gomez, first elected in 2017, represents California's safely blue 34th District and faces a potentially tough reelection challenge from progressive Democrat Angela Gonzales-Torres.