Scandal-plagued lawmaker now facing fresh misconduct allegations

The House Ethics Committee revealed yet more allegations against a scandal-plagued Democratic lawmaker in California are under review.

The letter, released on Monday, states the committee is investigating claims "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, including engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer in violation of clause 18(b) of the Code."

This comes two months after the Ethics Committee started investigating Gomez based on what appear to be separate allegations that he was spotted kissing an aide in another congressional office.

Gomez is the latest in a long series of lawmakers accused of misconduct, including Reps. Cory Mills (R-FL), Chuck Edwards (R-NC), Tony Gonzales (R-TX), and Eric Swalwell (D-CA). All of these lawmakers, except for Mills, have since either resigned from office outright or abandoned their re-election campaigns.

In a statement to Raw Story, Gomez claimed his actions "haven’t violated the law or House Ethics rules." He also acknowledged the "impact" his decisions had on people close to him.

"I take full responsibility and have committed myself to working through the pain privately with my wife and family," Gomez said. "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," he added. "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."