A Democratic congressman has resigned from the Congressional Dads Caucus as its founder and chairman, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), faces an ethics investigation involving allegations of sexual harassment and assault.
Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) became the first member known to leave the group since attorneys representing one of Gomez’s accusers revealed that their client had spoken with House Ethics investigators about her allegations against the California Democrat, according to NOTUS.
Attorneys Lisa Banks and Sarah Nesbitt said their client informed investigators “about her experience of sexual harassment and assault.” The woman has not been publicly identified, and her attorneys have not disclosed how she knew Gomez.
Gomez has not been found responsible for misconduct and has maintained that he did not violate federal law or House rules.
The congressman previously acknowledged making “personal mistakes outside my marriage” but said his encounters were “consensual in nature.” Gomez declined to address the assault allegations last week, citing his family and the ongoing investigation.
Auchincloss’ office confirmed his departure from the caucus to NOTUS. His photograph has also been removed from the Congressional Dads Caucus website, according to the outlet.
The organization includes roughly 50 Democratic members of the House and Senate, including House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and California Sen. Adam Schiff (D).
Gomez established the Congressional Dads Caucus in January 2023 after gaining national attention for bringing his then-4-month-old son onto the House floor in a baby carrier.
The group says the episode highlighted what it describes as a double standard facing working parents, arguing that fathers are frequently praised for bringing children to work while mothers can be criticized or viewed as less committed to their careers.
Pressure surrounding Gomez has intensified as lawmakers react to the allegations.
Former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), one of the caucus’s founding members, told NOTUS that Gomez should resign from Congress. He was the only founding member to respond when the outlet asked whether Gomez should step down.
Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL), chair of the Republican Women’s Caucus, also called for Gomez to resign last week.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Democratic Women’s Caucus urged the House Ethics Committee to move quickly in investigating what they characterized as “disturbing” allegations before the 60-day blackout period preceding Election Day, as People Magazine reported.
The investigation follows separate controversy surrounding Gomez’s personal life.
In June, Gomez admitted that he had been unfaithful to his wife after the New York Post reported that he had previously kissed a young aide outside the Washington, D.C., home of then-fellow California Democrat Eric Swalwell.
Banks and Nesbitt sharply criticized the alleged conduct in their Aug. 19 statement, arguing that Congress needed to take action against lawmakers accused of misconduct involving women working on Capitol Hill.
The House Ethics investigation remains ongoing, and Gomez has denied that his conduct violated House rules or the law. Auchincloss’ departure, however, represents the first reported defection from the caucus since the allegations against its founder escalated.
