Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) is facing allegations of sexual assault as part of an investigation by the House Ethics Committee. A woman, represented by attorneys Lisa Banks and Sarah Nesbitt, has accused Gomez of sexual misconduct, including incidents involving a House staffer. The committee announced the investigation on Monday.
The attorneys released a statement on Wednesday countering Gomez's claims that his actions were consensual, stating that their client detailed her experiences of sexual harassment and assault by Gomez to the committee.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) described the allegations as serious and disturbing, urging the committee to conduct a thorough investigation.
This situation arises amid a series of personal controversies affecting members of Congress. Earlier this year, Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX) resigned following allegations of rape and inappropriate relationships with staffers, respectively. Gomez was a close associate of Swalwell, having served as his campaign co-chair.
Additionally, Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) lost his primary bid amid his own ethics investigation, while Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) faces allegations of domestic abuse from his ex-wife, which he denies.
The Ethics Committee has also reported on Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) for unprofessional conduct towards female staffers, and former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned after being found guilty of multiple ethics violations.