Wave Wire Services
LOS ANGELES — The House Ethics Committee has formally announced it has begun an investigation into Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles, over allegations of sexual misconduct.
“The committee, pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a), is reviewing allegations that Representative Jimmy Gomez may have 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…” according to a statement from the committee released Aug. 17.
The House Ethics Committee said the investigation, and disclosure of review, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred.
A representative for Gomez did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The announcement came two months after the committee appeared likely to investigate Gomez.
Citing three unnamed sources, CNN reported June 2 that Gomez was being investigated by the committee. CNN reported that the committee initially began looking into a New \York Post story that Gomez had been spotted kissing an aide who worked for another member of Congress at a party in 2023, and during that inquiry, it learned of other misconduct allegations.
Gomez issued a lengthy statement to CNN denying that he violated any laws or ethics rules, but vowing to cooperate with an investigation. He admitted, however, that “years ago” he 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,” he said.
“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.”
Gomez has represented the 34th Congressional District since 2017. The district includes Boyle Heights, Chinatown, City Terrace, Cypress Park, downtown Los Angeles, Eagle Rock, El Sereno, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Koreatown, Little Tokyo, Lincoln Heights, Pico Union and Westlake.
Prior to Congress he served in the state Assembly.
