Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas has announced he will step down from Congress after acknowledging an extramarital affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. Gonzales faces a growing threat of expulsion by his colleagues.
In a post 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.” His announcement came hours after Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell said he was resigning following multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.
Gonzales admitted the affair after the House ethics committee opened an investigation. His former staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, died by suicide in September 2025 at age 35 in Uvalde, Texas. Gonzales said he had not spoken to her for a year before her death and had “absolutely nothing to do with her tragic passing”, describing the affair as a “mistake” and a “lapse in judgment”.
After the allegations became public, Gonzales ended his re-election campaign but said he would serve out his term. It is unclear whether his retirement will take effect immediately. Santos-Aviles's husband shared text messages allegedly showing the congressman asked for a “sexy pic” and that she said he was going “too far”. Gonzales accused the husband's lawyer of trying to “shake me down” for money. The lawyer said Gonzales was mischaracterising a legitimate claim under the Congressional Accountability Act.
Democratic Representative Teresa Leger Fernández had planned to introduce a resolution to remove Gonzales, stating he and Swalwell were “not fit to serve”. Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna, who led calls to expel Swalwell, said she would vote to expel Gonzales.
