House Speaker Mike Johnson Urges Embattled Congressman Tony Gonzales to Withdraw from Re-election Race
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and the party's top leadership have publicly called on Congressman Tony Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election, following his admission of an affair with a late staffer. In a joint statement issued on Thursday, Johnson and other senior House Republicans declared, 'Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election.' This move comes as pressure mounts on the Texas Republican to address serious allegations of misconduct.
Gonzales Admits to Affair After Months of Denial and Mounting Pressure
Tony Gonzales, a Republican representative from Texas, initially denied having an affair with his staffer, Regina Aviles, who tragically died by self-immolation in September. The Daily Mail first broke the story of their relationship last year, and speculation has swirled for months over whether Gonzales would confess to the allegations, which were first reported in October 2025. He faced increasing calls to resign after sexually charged texts between Gonzales and Aviles were released, revealing the married congressman soliciting inappropriate pictures and discussing sexual preferences with his subordinate.
One day after his primary race on Tuesday, as demands for his resignation from both Republicans and Democrats reached a boiling point, Gonzales finally admitted to the affair. He described it as a 'mistake' and a 'lapse in judgement,' adding, 'I've asked God to forgive me, which he has.' Speaker Johnson did not disclose whether Gonzales admitted to the affair during a private conversation they had earlier in the week, prior to the public confession.
House Ethics Committee Launches Investigation into Gonzales' Conduct
Gonzales' admission coincided with the House Ethics Committee announcing an investigation into his conduct, following a report from the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC) that indicated 'substantial reason to believe' he was involved in the affair. It is against congressional rules for a member to have an affair with a subordinate, raising significant ethical concerns. When questioned about Gonzales' admission, Johnson remained guarded, stating, 'I'm not going to get into private conversations,' but acknowledged that marital infidelity is not illegal, though it violates House rules.
Johnson emphasized, 'Well, of course, yeah. That's being addressed. There is an investigation at Ethics. The OCC is on it. All those steps have already been taken and apparently were underway.' He added that he has always been consistent in letting processes play out, whether involving Republicans or Democrats.
Bipartisan Calls for Resignation and Censure Resolutions
Both Democrats and Republicans have urged Gonzales to resign or, at a minimum, drop his re-election bid. Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolina accused Gonzales of 'harassing his own staffer in the middle of the night' and called for him to 'resign immediately and be held fully accountable for what he's done.' Mace filed a resolution to force the House Ethics Committee to release reports on sexual misconduct by members, but the House voted to send it to committee, effectively killing the effort.
Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna of Florida expressed outrage, stating, 'I think it's really disgusting how this institution protects itself,' and filed a censure resolution against Gonzales, one of the most severe punishments short of expulsion. Chair of the Congressional Democratic Women's Caucus, Teresa Leger Fernández, along with numerous liberal lawmakers, also demanded Gonzales' resignation, citing his 'abuse of power' and noting that such actions would lead to termination in any other workplace.
The scandal highlights ongoing tensions within Congress over ethical standards and accountability, as leadership grapples with the fallout from Gonzales' misconduct and the tragic circumstances surrounding his affair with Regina Aviles.
