Democrat Rep. Jimmy Gomez Accused of Sexual Harassment and Assault by Woman Interviewed in House Ethics Probe

Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez is facing a serious new allegation after attorneys representing a woman interviewed by the House Ethics Committee accused the California congressman of sexual harassment and assault.

Attorneys Lisa Banks and Sarah Nesbitt revealed Wednesday that they represent one of the women questioned as part of the committee’s investigation into Gomez. They directly challenged Gomez’s public characterization of his extramarital relationships as consensual, saying that description does not apply to their client.

The attorneys said their client described experiencing sexual harassment and assault by Gomez. They added that they expect the bipartisan Ethics Committee’s investigation to ultimately support her account. The allegations have not been proven, and Gomez has not been charged with a crime.

The new accusation significantly raises the stakes of an investigation that became public earlier this week. The House Ethics Committee confirmed Monday that it is reviewing allegations that Gomez may have engaged in sexual misconduct, including “inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer.”

The controversy originally erupted after Gomez was reportedly seen kissing a much younger congressional aide outside a Washington party in 2023. Gomez initially disputed reporting surrounding the incident but later acknowledged making “personal mistakes” outside his marriage.

Gomez has maintained that his extramarital conduct was consensual and did not violate the law or House ethics rules. He has apologized to his wife and family and said he intends to cooperate fully with the Ethics Committee while expressing confidence that an impartial investigation will clear up the allegations against him.

The attorneys representing the unidentified woman are now directly disputing that defense. They accused Gomez of attempting to minimize the seriousness of what their client says occurred by publicly describing the conduct under investigation as consensual.

The Ethics Committee’s inquiry is examining whether Gomez violated the House Code of Official Conduct or other applicable standards. House rules prohibit lawmakers and employees from making unwelcome sexual advances or engaging in unwelcome sexual conduct toward other members, officers or employees of the chamber.

Gomez, 51, has represented a Los Angeles-area district in Congress since 2017. The married Democrat also founded the Congressional Dads Caucus, an organization intended to promote policies supporting working families and parents.

The allegations arrive at a politically dangerous moment for Gomez as he campaigns for another term. He faces fellow Democrat Angela Gonzales-Torres in November while the Ethics Committee continues examining the misconduct claims.

The investigation has now moved well beyond questions surrounding an admitted extramarital affair. With a woman interviewed by congressional investigators accusing Gomez of sexual harassment and assault and directly rejecting his assertion that his conduct was consensual, the California Democrat faces potentially far more serious questions as the Ethics Committee works to determine what actually occurred.