The House Ethics Committee has begun investigating Rep. Jimmy Gomez of California over allegations of sexual misconduct tied to a 2023 incident involving a much younger aide. Gomez said he made personal mistakes outside his marriage, acknowledged the encounter
For Rep. Jimmy Gomez, the calendar turned in April and then accelerated again this week.
On Tuesday. the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into the California Democrat after a New York Post report said Gomez was “spotted surreptitiously kissing a much younger congressional aide” in the summer of 2023. Gomez’s 34th district covers Los Angeles neighborhoods including Eagle Rock and Boyle Heights.
Gomez initially denied the “make-out session” when the story first surfaced. But in a statement shared with CNN on Tuesday, he acknowledged the encounter had happened.
“I made personal mistakes outside my marriage that have caused real pain to my wife and family,” Gomez said. “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.”.
He added that he is working to address the harm privately. “I take full responsibility and have committed myself to working through the pain privately with my wife and family. 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 committee’s probe. CNN reported. is in its early stages and was prompted when it reached out to examine the Post story. One of the sources described how. in the course of looking into the April report. the panel learned of other allegations of sexual misconduct against Gomez that it has now started investigating.
Gomez has been married to his wife since 2011.
The investigation lands amid a crowded and fast-moving set of ethics and misconduct cases on Capitol Hill. Former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) was widely seen as a front-runner to replace Gavin Newsom as California’s next governor when an investigation was launched into multiple sexual misconduct accusations. One staffer alleged Swalwell raped her in a New York City hotel in 2024. and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office later announced it was investigating the claim. Swalwell denied all the allegations before deciding to quit Congress.
Another case: Ex-Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) left Congress in April after he faced an expulsion vote connected to an affair with one staffer and alleged inappropriate messages to another.
And last month, the House Ethics Committee launched a probe into House Republican Chuck Edwards (NC). That investigation, Axios reported, is focused on whether Edwards’ behavior with two young staffers “crossed professional boundaries and created an uncomfortable work environment.”
In Gomez’s case. the tension is clear: the committee has moved from an account of an alleged 2023 encounter to an ethics investigation that. according to CNN. now includes additional allegations discovered during its outreach. Gomez. meanwhile. is drawing a boundary around his conduct—acknowledging personal wrongdoing while insisting his actions have not violated the law or House ethics rules.
As the committee examines the matter, voters in Los Angeles neighborhoods represented by the 34th district—and families who live with the fallout of public scrutiny—will be watching the same question: where the evidence goes next, and what it means for accountability inside the House.
Jimmy Gomez House Ethics Committee sexual misconduct allegations California politics Los Angeles neighborhoods congressional aide House ethics investigation Eric Swalwell Tony Gonzales Chuck Edwards