August 21, 2026
Hello neighbors,
Today’s story is about politics and, yes, some of it is ugly.
The great thing about a hyperlocal news publication is that everything hits close to home. But that’s a double-edged sword, at least as for me, as a journalist who lives right here in the community.
You’ve likely read or heard the news this week about the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving our congressman, Rep. Jimmy Gomez. It made national news—CNN, The New York Times, NPR— but most of the people who hear or read those stories won’t be choosing between Gomez and his opponent, Angela Gonzales-Torres, in the November election.
But he’s our congressman. It’s our election. And given that Gomez is a five-term incumbent, chances are that if you’re reading this right now, you may have voted for him.
As I was reporting this story, I was acutely aware that these aren’t just names in a national news story. There are real people and families affected by what is being reported. That’s a heavy responsibility to carry as a journalist. That’s the double-edged sword.
So please know that I reported this story carefully, checking official election results, FEC records, House Ethics Committee guidelines, reading the candidates’ statements and reaching out to both campaigns. I have tried to be precise about what is alleged, what is disputed, and what is known.
That’s the standard I try to bring to every story in Eagle Rock Pop, but on a story like this one, it feels especially important.
It’s also time consuming, especially for a one-woman newsroom, so a couple of the other stories I’ve been working on, including what’s happening with the Eagle Rock High School track project and the follow-up on the Bus Rapid Transit lane construction project, will have to wait until the next newsletter.
As for this weekend’s events, I will refer you to this Reddit post, which gives some good recommendations. But one local event I don’t want you to miss: Saturday is the final performance of Chicken Little Shop of Horrors at Occidental.
I will send an Events issue out this weekend to cover Monday through Thursday.
Oh, and I have a new email: [email protected] The old one still works too.
Kathleen Craughwell
Editor, Eagle Rock Pop
Angela Gonzales-Torres Calls on Rep. Jimmy Gomez to Withdraw from Race
by Kathleen Craughwell
The House Ethics Committee announced on Monday that it is reviewing allegations of sexual misconduct against Rep. Jimmy Gomez. On Wednesday, attorneys for an unnamed woman they say was interviewed by the committee, issued a statement saying that their client had experienced “sexual harassment and assault by Gomez.” The statement further disputed the congressman’s assertion that his actions were consensual. “His actions were not ‘consensual in nature’ with respect to our client.”
Now his challenger in the November election, Angela Gonzeles-Torres, is calling on him to withdraw from the race.
“Rep. Jimmy Gomez should withdraw from the CA-34 race,” Gonzales-Torres told Eagle Rock Pop Thursday. “I’d point to his own standard. In April he resigned as chair of Eric Swalwell’s campaign for governor and said Swalwell should leave the race so there could be full accountability. That’s a standard he needs to apply to himself.”
Gomez resigned as co-chair of fellow congressman Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign in April after multiple women came forward with allegations against Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including allegations of rape. The day Gomez resigned as co-chair, he posted the following statement on Instagram:
“Today [April 10] I learned shocking information about Eric Swalwell containing the ugliest and most serious accusations imaginable. My involvement in any campaign begins and ends with trust. I cannot in good conscience remain in any role with this campaign, and I am stepping down from it effective immediately. The congressman [Swalwell] should leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction, or delay.”
In response to Monday’s reports about the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against him, Gomez responded with a written statement that acknowledged he had made, “personal mistakes outside my marriage,” but that his actions were “consensual in nature.” Gomez has not publicly responded to the allegations made Wednesday by the woman’s attorneys and did not respond to Eagle Rock Pop’s request for comment Thursday.
His statement largely echoed the one he released in June, when CNN first reported on the Ethics Committee inquiry on the day of the California primary. But this week he went on to say in the statement that, “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.”
In its statement, the Committee, “notes that the mere fact that it is investigating these allegations, and publicly disclosing its review, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred.” The statement goes on to state that, “no other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with Committee rules.”
But with the general election fast approaching, both the Democratic Women’s Caucus and the Republican Women’s Caucus called this week for the Ethics Committee to move with expediency and release the results of its investigation before the 60-day blackout period before the general election. The 60-day blackout period is a House Committee rule that bars “the use of official committee resources—including high-profile investigative updates—for activities that could carry political or campaign-related impacts.”
In the June primary, Gomez won 46% of the vote to Gonzales-Torres’ 31%.
Gonzales-Torres, a community organizer and former President of the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council, is running a grassroots campaign, holding postcard writing gatherings at parks and coffee shops. She’s also part of the wave of progressive candidates, often young, challenging more established Democrats, including incumbents like Gomez.
Though she is listed on the official ballot as a Democrat, Gonzales-Torres told CBS this week that she “identifies as a democratic socialist and DSA-LA member.”
Although she questions “whether a member under investigation can deliver for this district over the next two years,” she told Eagle Rock Pop that the investigation isn’t the basis of her campaign.
She has been a persistent critic of Gomez on social media, but it is largely over campaign financing, particularly contributions from AIPAC and contributions bundled by the organization.
“I didn’t build this campaign around his personal troubles and I’m not going to end it there.”
Editor’s note: Eagle Rock Pop contacted both Rep. Gomez’s congressional office and reelection campaign Thursday seeking his response to the allegations made public Wednesday and asking whether he intends to remain in the race. Neither office responded by the time of publication.
Do you think the House Ethics Committee should complete its investigation of Rep. Jimmy Gomez and release its findings before the 60-day blackout period?
Thank you for reading. If you believe local journalism like this is important, please help spread the word about Eagle Rock Pop and tell a friend or neighbor about us.
If you have comments, questions, news tips, or just want to say hi, email me at: [email protected]
-KC