Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) announced on Monday that he will resign from Congress, effective when he files his retirement papers upon the House's return. The move follows an ethics investigation into his admitted affair with a former staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, who later died by suicide. Gonzales had previously dropped his reelection bid after finishing second in the Republican primary.
Gonzales' resignation comes amid bipartisan calls for his expulsion, with House members from both parties signaling support for removal measures. The House Ethics Committee had opened an inquiry into his conduct, citing violations of congressional rules prohibiting relationships between lawmakers and their staff. A second former staffer also accused Gonzales of sending sexually explicit messages, according to reports.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Gonzales wrote, 'There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas.' His resignation follows a similar announcement by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), who also stepped down amid sexual misconduct allegations.
Gonzales initially denied the affair but later admitted to the relationship in March. He maintained that the affair had 'absolutely nothing to do with' Santos-Aviles' death. The scandal has drawn criticism from Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had urged Gonzales to withdraw from his reelection campaign.
The House was set to vote on expulsion measures for both Gonzales and Swalwell this week. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) had planned to introduce a resolution to expel Gonzales, while Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) also supported his removal. Gonzales' resignation averts a potential expulsion vote but leaves lingering questions about accountability for lawmakers facing ethical violations.