The House Ethics Committee has launched an investigation into allegations against Congressman Jimmy Gomez from California, who is accused of “inappropriate sexual conduct” involving a staff member.
The Democratic representative has previously acknowledged having an affair but maintains he did not breach any regulations set by the U.S. House of Representatives.
He stated, “I take full responsibility and am committed to personally working through the pain with my wife and family.”
This admission followed a CNN report that brought to light suspicions about his relationship with the staffer.
“Years ago, I made personal mistakes outside of my marriage that caused great pain to my wife and family. My actions were consensual in nature and did not violate the law or the House’s ethics rules, but that does not diminish the impact these mistakes had on the people I care about most,” Gomez expressed at the time.
“I take full responsibility and have decided to personally work through the pain with my wife and family,” he continued. “I sought professional help to center and repair the relationships that mean everything to me and move forward with integrity, transparency, and the respect we all deserve from our loved ones. I continue to do this work.”
The Ethics Committee clarified on Monday that members of Congress are prohibited from engaging in sexual relationships with House staff.
Interestingly, Gomez had been among those calling for the resignation of fellow Democrat Eric Swalwell following similar accusations.
He had said, “My involvement in any campaign begins and ends with trust. I cannot in good conscience continue to serve in any role in this campaign and am resigning from the campaign effective immediately.”
The Democrat has been serving California’s 34th Congressional District since 2017.
Despite the ongoing situation, Gomez is still accepting internship applications.
