WASHINGTON — The thriller lady Rep. Jimmy Gomez admitted to having an affair with is his greatest buddy Eric Swalwell’s former chief of employees, The Publish can reveal.
The married California Democrat had an 11-month-old baby at residence when he was caught in a second of ardour with Swalwell’s minxy congressional aide Yardena Wolf three years in the past.
Gomez, the founding father of the Dads Caucus in Congress, confessed Tuesday in an announcement that he cheated on his spouse after The Publish’s reporting on the encounter with Wolf, which kicked off a Home Ethics Committee investigation, yielding recent recommendations on his conduct.
Wolf, on the time 29, and Gomez, then 48, have been noticed having an intimate second in opposition to a automobile exterior a celebration at Swalwell’s residence north of the Capitol in the summertime of 2023 — about two years into her tenure as Swalwell’s prime staffer.
Wolf, a rising star in Democratic circles, acquired a glowing profile in Elle in 2024 and the identical yr she co-launched a synthetic intelligence-powered fundraising firm with Swalwell.
She gave the impression to be a prepared participant within the raunchy romance, however tipsters stated it was nonetheless troubling, together with as a result of Gomez was married with a younger son.
Two witnesses described the encounter to The Publish shortly after Swalwell resigned from Congress in April amid allegations of predatory sexual habits.
Gomez was among the many purchasers of the Wolf-Swalwell AI agency, known as Findraiser.
Sources described Gomez, now 51, as “a canine,” opposite to his self-promoted picture as a devoted household man and founding father of the Dads Caucus to champion fatherhood — however he denied inappropriate habits till confessing Tuesday to “private errors exterior my marriage.”
He has not publicly been accused of unlawful conduct, not like Swalwell, who was accused of raping an aide when she was too drunk to consent to intercourse.
Wolf and Gomez have been noticed going at it exterior a celebration hosted by Swalwell to have fun the beginning of the annual summer season recess whereas most attendees have been in Swalwell’s yard.
The brazen encounter was seen by a gaggle of Democratic aides ready for his or her Uber and one other who was smoking a cigarette.
Each Gomez and Wolf vigorously denied the encounter ever occurred when contacted by The Publish in April, although each acknowledged attending the occasion in query.
The Publish didn’t publish Wolf’s identify in its preliminary protection.
“She and Swalwell are two peas in a pod,” stated a Democratic congressional aide, who personally witnessed the make-out session. “… Once they get caught, they gaslight the s–t out of you to make you query your sanity.”
A unique Democratic supply, who additionally noticed the incident, stated Wolf’s relationship with Gomez was “actually the most important open secret in Democratic politics.”
“[Gomez] clearly already lied about this complete factor as soon as already. Neither of them can actually be trusted,” this individual stated.
A 3rd Democrat, who didn’t personally see Gomez and Wolf in a compromising place, heard of a number of encounters from trusted colleagues.
Different sightings of the pair have been relayed to The Publish however couldn’t be confirmed with a number of unbiased sources or documentary proof.
Wolf nonetheless denies having a relationship with Gomez.
“It stays not true,” Wolf stated in a textual content message.
CNN, which reported Gomez’s Tuesday confession, doesn’t identify the girl or ladies with whom he cavorted, however the context offered within the assertion doesn’t exclude Wolf.
Gomez stated “my actions have been consensual in nature and haven’t violated the legislation or Home ethics guidelines,” implying the individual in query was not his direct subordinate, which is barred explicitly by congressional insurance policies.
Gomez’s assertion emerged after the Ethics Committee “discovered of different allegations of sexual misconduct” in opposition to him, CNN reported. The panel’s investigation is usually understood to contain a relationship with workers.
A Gomez spokesman wouldn’t touch upon whether or not the confession issues the congressman’s relationship with Wolf.
The late-breaking scandal didn’t derail Gomez’s re-election bid in his deeply Democratic Los Angeles district. He took about 46% of the vote in a Tuesday nonpartisan “jungle major” in opposition to left-wing challenger Angela Gonzales-Torres, who positioned a distant second with 25.6%, additionally advancing to the Nov. 3 basic election.
