House Ethics investigating Rep. Jimmy Gomez over sexual misconduct allegations

The House Ethics Committee announced Monday that it is investigating Congressman Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Why it matters: Gomez is the latest House member to face scrutiny over alleged sexual misconduct amid a string of incidents that have prompted calls to tighten Congress' rules.

• Gomez said in a statement that he's made "personal mistakes outside my marriage," but said his actions were "consensual" and did not violate the law or House Ethics rules.
• "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 my relationships and move forward with honesty, transparency, and respect," Gomez said, adding he plans to cooperate with the committee's probe.

Driving the news: The committee said in a statement that it is reviewing allegations that Gomez "engaged in sexual misconduct in violation of the Code of Official Conduct or any other applicable standard of conduct, including engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer."

• The committee provided no further details about the allegations.
• CNN reported in June that the panel was investigating Gomez, including over an alleged romantic relationship he had in 2023 with an aide who worked for another member of Congress. Gomez, 51, has been married since 2011.

The big picture: House rules do not currently bar members of Congress from having relationships with staffers outside their own offices, but the bipartisan sexual misconduct task force is weighing whether to recommend banning all lawmaker-staffer sexual relationships.

• House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) endorsed such a ban last month, telling Axios: "I think it's inappropriate, as it would be in any workplace."

Zoom out: Congress has faced a series of sexual misconduct scandals and investigations this year.

• Two lawmakers — Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) — resigned earlier this year amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell also faces allegations of sexual assault. Swalwell has denied the allegations. Gonzales admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.
• Ethics concluded that Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) violated House rules over sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment, and recommended his censure earlier this month. Edwards has denied any wrongdoing.
• Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) is also under an Ethics investigation for allegations that center on domestic abuse, stolen valor and financial misconduct, all of which he denies.

The bottom line: The Ethics panel's investigations can take months, sometimes years, to yield formal reports or disciplinary recommendations.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with comment from Rep. Gomez.