The House Ethics Committee dropped a formal bombshell Monday, announcing it is reviewing allegations that Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) “may have engaged in sexual misconduct in violation of the Code of Official Conduct,” specifically including “engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer.”
The bipartisan panel’s statement, released under Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS) and Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), made clear the investigation is active under Committee Rule 18(a).
While the committee stressed that the mere fact of an investigation does not prove a violation occurred, the public disclosure itself is significant and damaging.
It is the latest chapter in a cascading series of Democrat sex scandals that have already claimed the careers of high-profile figures, including Gomez’s close ally, former Rep. Eric Swalwell.
NEW: The House Ethics Committee announces it is now investigating Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) over allegations of sexual misconduct, “including engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer.” pic.twitter.com/wsGwEwRoir
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) August 17, 2026
The Ethics Committee’s probe traces directly back to a New York Post exposé earlier this year.
In April, the Post reported that Gomez, then 48, married, and the founder of the so-called “Congressional Dads Caucus,” was spotted in a passionate make-out session with a much younger House staffer outside a 2023 backyard party at Eric Swalwell’s D.C. residence.
That staffer was later identified as Yardena Wolf, then Swalwell’s chief of staff. Gomez initially denied the encounter through a spokesman. When the Ethics Committee began looking into the Post’s reporting and received additional tips about his conduct, Gomez was forced to change his story.
In June, the California Democrat admitted to “personal mistakes outside my marriage that have caused real pain to my wife and family.”
He insisted the actions were “consensual” and claimed they did not violate House rules or the law, while promising to cooperate with any inquiry.
On Monday, after the Ethics Committee went public, Gomez issued a lengthy statement doubling down on the same line:
“As I said when the existence of an inquiry was first reported two months ago in the media, years ago, I made personal mistakes outside my marriage. Although my actions were consensual in nature and haven’t violated the law or House Ethics rules, that doesn’t diminish the impact that these mistakes have made on those I care about the most.
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.
“I have and continue to sincerely apologize to my family, friends, and the people that I have the privilege to serve. I am deeply sorry to my wife for the pain and embarrassment that I have brought into our lives. Her sacrifices and support are central to my ability to serve, and I can only feel gratitude for her grace and strength.
“I appreciate the Committee’s statement that the existence of an inquiry does not itself indicate that any violation occurred. I respect the Committee’s process and am confident that a full and impartial review of the facts will bear that out. 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.”
New statement from @RepJimmyGomez pertaining to the House Ethics Committee announcement:
“As I said when the existence of an inquiry was first reported two months ago in the media, years ago, I made personal mistakes outside my marriage. Although my actions were consensual in… https://t.co/ZJFboUQ1Gt
— Cassie Semyon (@casssemyon) August 17, 2026
Gomez is not an isolated case. He was a co-chair of Swalwell’s short-lived gubernatorial campaign before Swalwell’s own multiple sexual misconduct allegations forced him to resign from Congress and abandon his California run. The 2023 incident involving Gomez and Wolf occurred at a party Swalwell himself hosted.
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