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Rep. Jimmy Gomez accused of sexual assault amid Capitol Hill reckoning
USA Today • • general
Key Points:
- California Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for alleged sexual misconduct involving a House staffer, accusations he denies and describes as consensual mistakes outside his marriage.
- The woman's attorneys dispute Gomez’s claim of consensual behavior, highlighting a broader pattern of sexual misconduct by members of Congress amid a wave of ethics probes and resignations across both parties.
- Recent months have seen multiple lawmakers, including Democrats Eric Swalwell and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Republicans Tony Gonzales and Chuck Edwards, resign or face investigations over sexual misconduct and ethical violations.
- House Republicans have also faced scrutiny, with Rep. Cory Mills losing a primary amid an ongoing investigation and Rep. Max Miller addressing domestic abuse allegations, reflecting bipartisan challenges in addressing misconduct on Capitol Hill.
- In response, House leadership created a bipartisan task force to combat sexual harassment and misconduct, emphasizing the importance of safe workplaces for women regardless of party affiliation.
