Get you up to speed: Woman told House Ethics Committee that Rep. Jimmy Gomez sexually assaulted her, attorneys say
A woman has accused Representative Jimmy Gomez of sexual assault, according to statements from her attorneys, as the House Ethics Committee investigates allegations of sexual misconduct against the California Democrat. Gomez acknowledged “personal mistakes” but claimed his actions were consensual, a point his client’s attorneys dispute, asserting that their client experienced sexual harassment and assault.
The House Ethics Committee is investigating multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against Representative Jimmy Gomez, including inappropriate contact with a staff member. House Democratic leaders have urged for a thorough and prompt investigation as the chamber prepares to discuss new ethics legislation aimed at preventing sexual relationships between lawmakers and staff.
House Democratic leaders described the allegations against Rep. Jimmy Gomez as “serious and disturbing” and urged the Ethics Committee to conduct a “thorough and swift investigation.” The ongoing inquiry coincides with proposed legislation aimed at overhauling ethics rules in the House, which would prohibit relationships between lawmakers and all congressional staffers.
What remains unclear — The specific details of the claims made by the woman against Rep. Jimmy Gomez have not been publicly disclosed.
Woman alleges sexual assault by Rep. Jimmy Gomez to House Ethics Committee
Washington — A woman told the House Ethics Committee that Rep. Jimmy Gomez sexually assaulted her, according to her attorneys, a claim that comes as the panel investigates sexual misconduct allegations against the California Democrat.
The bipartisan committee said Monday that it’s looking into allegations against Gomez, including that he engaged “in inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer.”
Gomez acknowledged in a statement Monday that he “made personal mistakes outside my marriage” and that his “actions were consensual in nature.”
The attorneys for the unnamed woman pushed back on the assertion that Gomez’s actions were consensual.
“We represent one of the women who was interviewed by the House Committee on Ethics about her experience of sexual harassment and assault by Representative Jimmy Gomez. Contrary to Representative Gomez’s assertion in his statement, his actions were not ‘consensual in nature’ with respect to our client. We fully expect that the House Committee on Ethics will come to the same conclusion in its investigation,” said her attorneys, Lisa J. Banks and Sarah E. Nesbitt.
WTX US News has reached out to Gomez’s office for comment on the allegations. Banks and Nesbitt did not identify their client, and WTX US News has not verified her claims.
In his statement earlier this week, Gomez said he was “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,” he added.
House Democratic leaders called the allegations “serious and disturbing.”
“We encourage the Committee to conduct a thorough and swift investigation,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar said in a statement Wednesday.
In announcing the probe on Monday, the Ethics Committee said that “[n]o other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with Committee rules.”
The investigation comes as the House is poised to consider legislation to overhaul the chamber’s ethics rules. The proposal would, among other things, ban lawmakers from having sexual relationships with any congressional staffers, not just those under their direct supervision.