Married Democrat under ethics probe over bombshell sex claim as Capitol Hill's MeToo reckoning strikes third lawmaker

By VICTORIA CHURCHILL, US POLITICAL REPORTER Published: 21:36, 2 June 2026 | Updated: 21:38, 2 June 2026 A Democratic congressman is under investigation over allegations of sexual misconduct, it emerged Tuesday as Capitol Hill's MeToo reckoning deepened.  California Representative Jimmy Gomez is being probed by the House Ethics Committee, sources told CNN, after a report that he kissed a much younger staffer. The father-of-one told CNN that he made 'mistakes' that had 'caused real pain' to his wife of 15 years but did not violate any laws or ethics rules. He was spotted kissing the woman outside a backyard party hosted by fellow California lawmaker Eric Swalwell to celebrate the start of the August congressional recess in 2023, according to the Post.  The aide, from another office and two decades younger than Gomez, was 'was sitting on the hood of the car and they were going at it,' a source told the outlet.  The 51-year-old was part of Swalwell's 'Cool Kids Clique', known for partying. Swalwell resigned under a cloud of sexual misconduct allegations earlier this year.  The ethics committee began contacting people following the publication of the Post article, leading to the panel learning of other misconduct allegations against Gomez, three sources told CNN. Gomez said in a statement: 'Years ago, I made personal mistakes outside my marriage that have caused real pain to my wife and family. 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.' California Representative Jimmy Gomez with his wife Mary and their young son Jimmy Gomez on Capitol Hill in August of 2020 Former US Representative Eric Swalwell, Democrat of California, speaks in Los Angeles, California, in January of 2026 He added that he has taken responsibility for his actions and sought professional counseling to help repair the relationships most important to him. The bombshell dropping on Gomez comes after his friend Swalwell's political career blew up in April, as a sexual assault allegation from a former staffer forced him to quit the California gubernatorial race.   Swalwell has been accused of sexual misconduct by at least five women, including a former staffer who alleged that Swalwell, who is married, raped her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent, in 2019 and 2024. She is one of four women who have made allegations against the Democrat. Swalwell announced he was suspending his campaign after the accusations came to light, saying he was 'deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I've made in my past,' while disputing what he called 'false allegations' against him. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican who resigned after the Daily Mail exposed a sex scandal involving his former staffer, also resigned in disgrace earlier this year. Gonzales announced in April that he would also step down, after the Daily Mail exposed a sex scandal involving his staffer, who later set herself on fire, resulting in her death. Writing on X before announcing his departure, Gonzales, who had already dropped his bid for re-election, said: 'There is a season for everything, and God has a plan for us all. 'When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas.' Former Representative Tony Gonzales speaks outside of the US Capitol Building in November of 2023 in Washington, DC He had an affair with married aide Regina Aviles, initially denying it before admitting the relationship last month. She took her own life last September.  Gonzales called it a 'mistake' and a 'lapse in judgment,' adding: 'I take full responsibility for those actions. Since then, I have reconciled with my wife, Angel. I've asked God to forgive me, which he has. And my faith is as strong as ever.' Gomez is on the ballot in the California primary on Tuesday evening, facing off against five other candidates, including three Democrats and one Republican. His seat in California's 34th Congressional District is ranked as 'Solid Democratic' by the Cook Political Report. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. 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