Rep.-elect Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., has yet to assume the congressional seat he won in a special election over a month ago.
The Washington Post published an article asking "Where's Jimmy Gomez," questioning if the incoming congressman would be sworn in before the House debates a bill targeting "sanctuary cities" like Los Angeles, a large part of which is in his district.
Gomez told the Los Angeles Times on Monday that he initially planned to remain a state legislator until California votes to extend its cap-and-trade program. However, the deal was not included in June's state budget vote, leading Gomez to say that his swearing in depended on House leadership.
"I gave a commitment to be available for cap and trade until June 15 and I notified [Minority] Leader [Nancy] Pelosi's office that anytime after the 15th, I would be ready to be sworn-in, except the week of June 26 because [of] a family scheduling conflict," he said in a text message.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Gomez's attempt to stay in the state legislature was an "abdication" of responsibility earlier this week.
"If this delay persists due to his prioritization of state legislative matters, Congressman-elect Gomez should be honest with the constituents of California's 34th congressional district who he was elected to serve and resign from his newly-elected seat so they can elect someone ready to serve on Day One," McCarthy wrote in a letter to Gomez, Pelosi and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla.
A spokeswoman for Pelosi told Politico on Wednesday the swearing in could not be held due to a prior family conflict. A senior Democratic aide said the ceremony will take place on July 11.
"While we appreciate his interest in having a full complement of Democrats in Congress, perhaps his time would be better spent identifying exactly what and where the Republican agenda is," said the minority leader's spokeswoman, Caroline Behringer.
"Congressman-elect Gomez has been clear that he had an existing family conflict and couldn't be sworn in this week."
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