At least one House Democrat has resigned from the Congressional Dads Caucus, after its chair, California Rep. Jimmy Gomez, became the subject of a sexual misconduct investigation.
Massachusetts Rep. Jake Auchincloss dropped out of the caucus, according to his office. The voluntary congressional group formed for the purpose of advocating to “uplift parents and children across the country,” and is made up of about three dozen Democratic lawmakers, mostly men, according to the caucus website.
“Yes, he has resigned from the Dads Caucus; that leadership is up to the members of the caucus,” spokesperson Georgina Burros responded when asked by NOTUS if Auchincloss planned to call for Gomez to step down as chair.
Auchincloss’ photo has been scrubbed from the caucus website since NOTUS began reporting on this story. It’s not the first time Auchincloss has drawn a line about the personal conduct of a fellow Democrat. He was an early critic of Graham Platner, the former Maine Senate candidate who faced a series of damaging revelations about his past. Auchincloss said that a tattoo of a Nazi symbol Platner got before going into politics was “disqualifying.” Platner eventually dropped out of the Senate race after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct were reported, though he denied those allegations.
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The House Ethics Committee announced last week that it was investigating Gomez over sexual misconduct accusations, including an allegation that he engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a staffer. The probe followed an April story in the New York Post that alleged Gomez was seen kissing a staffer during the summer of 2023. Gomez subsequently apologized to his wife, family and constituents.
“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 House Ethics Committee said in an Aug. 17 statement. “No other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with Committee rules.”
Auchincloss’ resignation from the group is the latest fallout related to the Gomez investigation. A bipartisan group of women called on the House Ethics Committee to rush the release of Gomez’s investigation before the 60-day blackout period ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3. The blackout period restricts certain government communications and ethics investigations ahead of an election.
Gomez founded the Congressional Dads Caucus in January 2023, along with Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Rob Menendez of New Jersey, Joaquin Castro of Texas, Joe Neguse of Colorado, and former Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York. During a 2023 House vote to formally elect Kevin McCarthy as speaker that lasted several days, Gomez was seen on the House floor toting his infant son in a baby carrier.
None of the founding members responded to NOTUS when asked if they planned to resign from the caucus or call for Gomez to step down.
When Bowman, who no longer serves in the House, was reached via text for comment about whether Gomez should step down, he responded, “Yes.”
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