L.A. Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez is reportedly under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over sexual misconduct allegations. The probe follows April reporting that he was seen kissing a much younger congressional staffer in 2023, and it comes as he fac
The day Rep. Jimmy Gomez’s campaign was already fighting for attention, fresh reporting brought a darker question into the spotlight: whether his conduct in 2023 has crossed ethical lines inside the House.
Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez of Los Angeles is reportedly under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over sexual misconduct allegations. The investigation was triggered after the New York Post reported in April that the 51-year-old. five-term congressman had been spotted kissing a much younger congressional staffer from a different office in 2023.
The scrutiny did not stop at one alleged encounter. In the course of investigating the 2023 conduct report, the congressional committee learned of other allegations of sexual misconduct, CNN first reported on Tuesday.
Gomez’s office denied the report at the time. The allegation that he kissed a younger staffer at a party comes from the New York Post. which said the 2023 incident happened at a party hosted by former California Rep. Eric Swalwell, who had been a close friend of Gomez. Gomez’s connection to Swalwell ran deeper than politics: Gomez was a co-chair of Swalwell’s campaign.
Swalwell’s own story has already forced multiple exits. Earlier this year. Swalwell resigned from Congress and suspended his California gubernatorial campaign after multiple women accused him of sexual assault. Another lawmaker, Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, resigned from Congress in April after allegations of sexual misconduct with a former staffer who later committed suicide.
Both Swalwell and Gonzales were under investigation by the House ethics committee before they resigned. but those investigations ended when they left office because the committee only has jurisdiction to investigate sitting members. The reported investigation involving Gomez marks a different posture: he is still in Congress. and the committee is still able to pursue the matter.
Gomez’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment. but in a statement to CNN. Gomez said he would cooperate with the ethics investigation. He acknowledged “personal mistakes” outside his marriage. apologizing to his family. and said he believes his actions did not violate House ethics rules.
“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.
The House Ethics Committee declined to comment on the reported investigation.
For Gomez, the political stakes extend beyond Washington. His disclosure also lands as he faces a campaign challenge from Angela Gonzales-Torres. a Pasadena City College counselor backed by the progressive Justice Democrats. Gonzales-Torres has criticized Gomez for receiving backing from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. or AIPAC. though Gomez has at times taken political stances at odds with the group.
After news of the ethics investigation broke, Gonzales-Torres posted on the social media platform X: “I take political corruption seriously … I also take very seriously what appears to be a culture in Congress in which men abuse women. If @RepJimmyGomez has nothing to hide, he should have no concern. But if there was any criminal behavior that he witnessed. participated in. or helped conceal. we will find out and we will help ensure accountability and justice.”.
Gomez’s personal and political profile has been tightly linked to family themes during his time in Congress. He is married to Mary Hodge, a past top aide to former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. The couple have a son, whom Gomez wore in a baby carrier during the lengthy House speaker election in 2023. That same year. Gomez founded the Congressional Dads Caucus. which has advocated for expanded child tax credits and other parent-friendly legislation.
Before his House career. Gomez was first elected to Congress in a 2017 special election to succeed Xavier Becerra. who is now running for governor and saw the biggest boost in support following Swalwell’s departure from the race in April. Gomez previously served in the state assembly from 2012 to 2017 and was political director for the United Nurses Assn. of California before that.
Now. with the Ethics Committee investigation reportedly underway. the central question for voters is not only what happened in 2023. but what follows when personal conduct and public trust collide—especially inside a chamber already bruised by similar allegations involving other members who left office before the committee could finish its work.
Jimmy Gomez House Ethics Committee sexual misconduct allegations Los Angeles congressman Angela Gonzales-Torres Justice Democrats AIPAC Eric Swalwell Tony Gonzales Congressional Dads Caucus