The House Ethics Committee announced Monday that it is investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif, including “inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer.”

“The Committee, pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a), is reviewing allegations that Representative Jimmy Gomez may have engaged in sexual misconduct in violation of the Code of Official Conduct or any other applicable standard of conduct,” the committee said in a statement.

The New York Post reported in April that Gomez was seen kissing a member of another office’s congressional staff in 2023. A Gomez spokesperson told the Post at the time that the accounts shared with the outlet were “not true,” though Gomez later admitted to “personal mistakes” outside of his 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,” Gomez said in a statement to NPR. “I take full responsibility and have committed myself to working through the pain privately with my wife and family.”

“I also 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,” Gomez said. “Out of respect for my family and the ongoing process, I will have no further comment.”

Gomez, who has represented portions of Los Angeles in the House since 2017, faces Angela Gonzales-Torres, a community advocate and fellow Democrat, in his November reelection bid. 

In a June statement posted to X, Gonzales-Torres called out “what appears to be a culture in Congress in which men abuse women” and said that if Gomez “has nothing to hide, he should have no concern. But if there was any criminal behavior that he witnessed, participated in, or helped conceal, we will find out and we will help ensure accountability and justice.”