The House Ethics Committee disclosed on Monday that additional misconduct allegations against Rep. Jimmy Gomez, a scandal-plagued California Democrat, are under review.

In a letter released Monday, the committee said it 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."

Clause 18 of the House's Code of Official Conduct, added in 2018 as part of the chamber's response to the #MeToo movement, bars members from having sexual relationships with House employees they supervise. The same wave of reform changed how misconduct claims by congressional staff are handled, including ending forced confidentiality in settlement agreements, though discipline of members ultimately rests with their chamber: sanctions such as a reprimand or censure require a majority vote of the House, while expulsion requires a two-thirds vote.

The new review comes two months after the Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Gomez based on what appear to be separate allegations that he was spotted kissing an aide in another congressional office.

The committee, made up of five Democrats and five Republicans, did not say whether the newly disclosed allegations will be folded into the existing inquiry or examined separately, and Monday's letter included no timeline. Ethics Committee investigations have historically run from several months to more than a year, and can end in a public report recommending sanctions, a referral, or a finding that no violation occurred.

Gomez, who has represented a Los Angeles-based district since winning a 2017 special election to succeed former Rep. Xavier Becerra, 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," while acknowledging 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."