U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro says she has invited people who accuse members of Congress of sexual misconduct to contact her office, saying that potential crimes should not be handled exclusively through the House’s internal ethics process.
In a letter she released Wednesday to House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Pirro cited allegations against Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), who is under investigation by the committee for possible sexual misconduct involving a congressional staffer.
“Where the facts constitute a crime and the evidence is sufficient, cases must be prosecuted,” Pirro wrote.
The Ethics Committee announced Aug. 17 that it was reviewing allegations that Gomez may have violated the House Code of Official Conduct or another standard of conduct, including by engaging in “inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer.” The committee emphasized that the investigation does not indicate that a violation occurred.
Gomez represents California’s 34th Congressional District. He said in a statement provided to media outlets that “years ago, I made personal mistakes outside my marriage.”
“Although my actions were consensual in nature and haven’t violated the law or House Ethics rules, that doesn’t diminish the impact that these mistakes have made on those I care about the most,” he said.
Pirro criticized the confidentiality surrounding congressional misconduct cases, including those resolved through settlements involving taxpayer money. She said such cases frequently “never see the light of day,” raising questions about whether lawmakers are being protected from accountability.
“The days of these cases quietly disappearing must come to an end,” Pirro wrote. “We can no longer allow young people who eagerly come to work in our Nation’s Capitol to be targeted and sexually harassed by Members of Congress who rely on a broken and secretive process to shield them from accountability and, potentially, the law.”
Pirro asked Guest and other members of the committee to advise complainants, alleged victims, and their attorneys that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia is available to receive their concerns.
The letter was also sent to Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.), the committee’s ranking Democrat.
“No one is above the law. No case should be swept under the rug,” Pirro posted on X on Wednesday.
Pirro was confirmed by the Senate as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia in August 2025 after serving in an interim capacity since May 2025.
She previously worked as an assistant district attorney in Westchester County, New York, and became the first woman elected as a Westchester County Court judge and later as the county’s district attorney.
During her three terms as district attorney, Pirro established a domestic violence unit and other programs focused on crime victims. She has also written eight books.
We had a problem loading this article. Please enable javascript or use a different browser. If the issue persists, please visit our help center.