Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas announced on Monday that he will resign from Congress, following revelations of an extramarital affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. The decision comes as he faced mounting pressure from colleagues and a potential expulsion vote.
Gonzales admitted last month to the affair with Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, a former aide who died by suicide in September 2025 at age 35. The House Ethics Committee had opened an investigation into whether he engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee or discriminatory practices.
In a statement on X, 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.' He had previously ended his re-election campaign but planned to serve out his term.
Gonzales denied responsibility for Santos-Aviles's death, saying he had not spoken to her for a year before her passing. He described the affair as 'a lapse in judgment' and said he had reconciled with his wife. Text messages shared by Santos-Aviles's husband allegedly showed Gonzales requesting explicit photos, which he did not comment on at the time.
Democratic Representative Teresa Leger Fernández had announced plans to introduce a resolution to expel Gonzales, stating he was 'not fit to serve' due to his sexual transgressions. Republican Anna Paulina Luna also said she would vote to expel him. Gonzales's resignation follows that of Democrat Eric Swalwell, who stepped down amid multiple sexual assault allegations.
