SACRAMENTO, August 15, 2025 — Today, Democratic congressional candidate Erica Lee, who is mounting a primary challenge in California’s 7th District, formally called on the Chair of the House Ethics Committee to launch an immediate investigation into Rep. Doris Matsui’s alleged misrepresentation of her primary residence, absence from Sacramento, and growing pattern of deception toward constituents.
Though Rep. Matsui continues to list Sacramento as her primary residence, mounting evidence — including public records, eyewitness accounts, and digital footprints — suggests she has never lived in California, instead spending the majority of her time in the Maryland home she shared with her first husband, Rep. Bob Matsui. Complaints have already been filed with the House Ethics Committee, citing concerns about violations of residency rules and potential misconduct.
In addition to reaching out to the House Ethics Committee, Lee this week contacted Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, and submitted direct evidence that Rep. Matsui and her staff have engaged in a deliberate effort to mislead the public — including the recycling of outdated photos on official social media accounts to falsely portray district engagement.
“If working class Americans skipped work the way Rep. Matsui has — especially during the August recess — they’d be fired,” said Lee. “It’s unacceptable that a sitting member of Congress can lie about where she lives, refuse to show up for her constituents, and still collect a paycheck.”
On top of that, Rep. Matsui’s official House website has disabled the ability for constituents to request meetings, and numerous Sacramento residents have reported that she has been completely absent from community events and town halls for months.
This morning, The Sacramento Bee’s Editorial Board published a scathing opinion piece titled “Doris Matsui is ducking her district when it needs a public leader,” highlighting the fact she is “too comfortable” and should have retired at the end of 2024. “Our issue with Matsui transcends her age. It’s that she doesn’t seem willing or able to change with the times. Her attitude is that she knows best, that only she can do this job right now, and everyone should just accept that.”
Despite overwhelming evidence suggesting that a sitting congresswoman’s primary residence is not in Sacramento, local leaders have chosen silence over accountability, as well. Their failure to speak out raises serious concerns about political favoritism and a disregard for the integrity of our democratic process. At a time when transparency and trust in our institutions are more important than ever, this silence is not just disappointing—it’s unacceptable.
Evidence suggests that it has become increasingly clear that Rep. Matsui is skirting the constitutional requirement to reside within the state of the district she claims to represent. If a home in Maryland is her actual primary residence—hundreds of miles from the constituents of California’s 7th District—she would not only be disregarding the spirit of the U.S. Constitution, but also betraying the trust of the voters who expect their representative to live among them, understand their daily realities, and be present in their community. This would raise serious questions about her legitimacy to serve and her commitment to those she was elected to represent.
Lee is urging Rep. Michael Guest, Chair of the House Committee on Ethics, to open a full investigation into Rep. Matsui’s conduct — including her actual place of residence, and the possible misuse of government resources and intentional obstruction of constituent access.
“Democracy doesn’t work when elected officials lie, hide, and run from the people they’re supposed to represent,” Lee concluded. “Sacramento deserves better — and it’s time for accountability.”
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