WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee is investigating Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) for “inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer” — after he admitted to cheating on his wife following a Post exposé that revealed Gomez kissed a much younger aide three years ago.
The Ethics Committee cited a potential violation of a House rule that prohibits lawmakers or employees from engaging in “unwelcome sexual advances or conduct towards another Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House.”
“I respect the Committee’s process and am confident that a full and impartial review of the facts will bear that out,” Gomez said in a statement. “I stand ready to cooperate with the Ethics Committee inquiry and provide it with whatever information it might need. Out of respect for my family and the ongoing process, I will have no further comment.”
The probe, announced by the bipartisan panel Monday, threatens to drag in prominent Democrats as witnesses — including Gomez’s former roommate Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) — and adds fuel to efforts to further restrict sexual conduct between elected officials and subordinates.
Gomez copped to having an affair in June, confessing to “personal mistakes outside my marriage that have caused real pain to my wife and family,” in a statement to CNN that characterized the extramarital relations as “consensual.”
“I sincerely apologize to my wife, family, friends and the people that I have the privilege to serve,” the 51-year-old said at the time.
On Monday, Gomez added in a statement that his actions “were consensual in nature and haven’t violated 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. I continue to do this work,” he also said.
The Post reported April 18 that Gomez got hot and heavy with a House staffer two decades his junior outside a backyard party at then-Rep. Eric Swalwell’s (D-Calif.) DC residence in the summer of 2023.
The married Dads Caucus founder had an 11-month-old child at home and initially denied sharing a passionate moment with the woman, then-Swalwell aide Yardena Wolf, against a car outside her boss’ home.
It’s unclear whether the Ethics Committee is investigating other relationships Gomez may have had with congressional aides.
Swalwell, Gallego and Gomez formed a so-called “Cool Kids Clique” prior to their collective disgrace and were known for heavy drinking and womanizing, including at Swalwell’s DC pad.
Gallego has privately admitted to sexual relationships with at least two House aides working for different members of Congress, The Post reported last month.
The House of Representatives banned members from having relationship with their own staffers in 2018 at the height of the #MeToo movement — after four lawmakers resigned following allegations of misconduct.
While relationships between lawmakers and staffers for their colleagues are technically allowed, they can still run afoul of congressional rules if there are additional aggravating factors — such as harassment, assault or if the staffer works for a committee on which the member sits.
In response to The Post’s reporting on Gomez and Gallego, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) last month endorsed a bipartisan proposal to ban all sexual conduct between lawmakers and House staff.
“Even if a relationship is consensual, there is an inherent power imbalance that can undermine trust and create an appearance of impropriety,” House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), the highest-ranking woman in the House, told The Post at the time.
“The goal should be protecting staff and maintaining confidence in the institution.”
