Pelosi calls for speedy ethics probe as Cárdenas denies sex abuse claims

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Saturday called on the House Ethics Committee to conduct a “prompt” investigation into sexual abuse allegations against Rep. Tony Cárdenas, which the California Democrat has denied.

“As Members of Congress, we each have a responsibility to uphold the integrity of the House of Representatives, and any type of alleged misconduct must be investigated by the Ethics Committee,” Pelosi said in a statement. “Congressman Cárdenas said he will fully cooperate with an Ethics investigation.”

She said that Cárdenas has “appropriately asked us to withhold judgment until there is a full investigation of the facts.”

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The lawsuit, filed last Friday to the Los Angeles Superior Court, left Cárdenas unnamed but claimed a “public figure” sexually abused a 16-year-old girl at a golf tournament in 2007.

Cárdenas, who was a member of city council in 2007, on Friday identified himself in the lawsuit to dispute the claims, which he has called “categorically untrue.”

The congressman has reportedly been calling his colleagues to tell them that he is innocent.

The plaintiff, who is now married, has said she was motivated to sue by the “Me Too” movement.