A woman has accused U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez, a California Democrat, of sexual assault and harassment, according to statements from her legal counsel. The allegations against the 51-year-old congressman, who has represented a Los Angeles County district since 2017, emerge during a broader period of scrutiny on Capitol Hill that has already led to several high-profile resignations and suspended campaigns.
On Monday, August 17, the House Ethics Committee announced it had initiated an investigation into whether Gomez "may have engaged in sexual misconduct in violation" of House conduct rules, specifically mentioning potential "inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer." While the committee's announcement referenced a House staffer, it remains unclear whether the woman represented by the attorneys is that same staffer, and the exact timeline of the alleged events has not been publicly specified.
Gomez has denied any ethical wrongdoing. In statements provided to multiple news outlets after the committee launched its investigation, the congressman acknowledged having made "personal mistakes outside (his) marriage." However, he maintained that these actions were "consensual in nature" and did not violate congressional ethics regulations.
This assertion was quickly challenged by attorneys Lisa J. Banks and Sarah E. Nesbitt, who represent one of the women interviewed by the House Ethics Committee. In a joint statement issued a few days later, the lawyers disputed the congressman's characterization of the events. "Contrary to Representative Gomez’s assertion in his statement, his actions were not ‘consensual in nature’ with respect to our client," Banks and Nesbitt wrote. Gomez's congressional office did not respond to inquiries seeking comment on these specific allegations.
The House Ethics Committee emphasized that the existence of the probe is not an indication of guilt. In a joint statement, Representative Michael Guest, the Republican chairman of the committee, and Representative Mark DeSaulnier, the ranking Democrat, clarified the panel's stance. "The Committee notes that the mere fact that it is investigating these allegations, and publicly disclosing its review, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred," they stated.
The investigation into Gomez is part of a series of misconduct allegations that have impacted both Democratic and Republican lawmakers in recent months. In April, California Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress while facing an ethics investigation and potential expulsion over allegations of sexual assault and misconduct from multiple women, which he denied. Within an hour of Swalwell's departure, Texas Republican Representative Tony Gonzales also resigned. Gonzales admitted to having an extramarital affair with a staff member who subsequently died by self-immolation after the relationship ended.
Weeks after those resignations, Florida Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick stepped down amid bipartisan scrutiny, an ethics probe, and a federal criminal indictment alleging she stole $5 million in federal disaster relief funds. Cherfilus-McCormick defended herself by criticizing the Ethics Committee's actions as a "witch hunt."
Other recent scandals have primarily involved House Republicans. In early August 2026, the House Ethics Committee released a report concerning North Carolina Republican Representative Chuck Edwards. The committee concluded that Edwards had targeted two female staffers, creating "an untenable position" through behavior that any "reasonable observer" would view as romantic or sexual. Although Edwards maintained his actions were aboveboard, he withdrew his bid for reelection that same week.
Additionally, a high-profile family dispute has unfolded in Ohio, where Republican Representative Max Miller, who is running for reelection, has requested that the Ethics Committee investigate allegations of domestic abuse made against him. The accusations were leveled by Miller's ex-wife, who is the daughter of Republican Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno. Miller stated he requested the review "to clear (his) name from these horrific attacks."
In response to the growing number of misconduct allegations, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries established a bipartisan task force in May to address sexual harassment and misconduct on Capitol Hill. The task force is led by Republican Representative Kat Cammack and Democratic Representative Teresa Leger Fernández. Commenting on the initiative, Cammack stated, "No woman – regardless of party, title, or position – should ever feel unsafe in her workplace. Period."
