House GOP leadership calls on scandal-ridden Tony Gonzales suspend re-election
What's the endgame here?
House Republican leaders asked Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) to suspend his 2026 reelection campaign on Thursday, coming less than a day after the scandal-ridden Texas congressman admitted he had an affair with his staffer.
“The Ethics Committee has announced an investigation into Congressman Tony Gonzales’s conduct, and we urge them to act expeditiously,” the leadership team said in a statement. “Congressman Gonzales has said he will fully cooperate with the investigation. We have encouraged him to address these very serious allegations directly with his constituents and his colleagues. In the meantime, Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election.”
The statement comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) warned people not to “prejudge” the allegations surrounding Gonzales and that they should “let the process play out.” The House Ethics Committee announced Wednesday it was forming a special subcommittee to investigate the allegations.
The panel’s move came one day after Gonzales was forced into a GOP primary run-off for his House seat.
Text messages released to the public last week showed the congressman appearing to pressure a former aide, Regina Santos-Aviles into a sexual relationship. Santos-Aviles, who was married at the time of the messages, died by suicide last year after setting herself on fire.
Gonzales had told reporters that “what you have seen are not all the facts” and said he would not resign. But he later admitted to the affair during an interview with a conservative talk show on Wednesday night.
“I made a mistake and I had a lapse in judgment,” Gonzales said in an interview. “I take full responsibility for those actions.”
Gonzales added that he has made amends with his wife and asked God to forgive him, “which He has.”
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
What's the endgame here?
House Republican leaders asked Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) to suspend his 2026 reelection campaign on Thursday, coming less than a day after the scandal-ridden Texas congressman admitted he had an affair with his staffer.
“The Ethics Committee has announced an investigation into Congressman Tony Gonzales’s conduct, and we urge them to act expeditiously,” the leadership team said in a statement. “Congressman Gonzales has said he will fully cooperate with the investigation. We have encouraged him to address these very serious allegations directly with his constituents and his colleagues. In the meantime, Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election.”
The statement comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) warned people not to “prejudge” the allegations surrounding Gonzales and that they should “let the process play out.” The House Ethics Committee announced Wednesday it was forming a special subcommittee to investigate the allegations.
The panel’s move came one day after Gonzales was forced into a GOP primary run-off for his House seat.
Text messages released to the public last week showed the congressman appearing to pressure a former aide, Regina Santos-Aviles into a sexual relationship. Santos-Aviles, who was married at the time of the messages, died by suicide last year after setting herself on fire.
Gonzales had told reporters that “what you have seen are not all the facts” and said he would not resign. But he later admitted to the affair during an interview with a conservative talk show on Wednesday night.
“I made a mistake and I had a lapse in judgment,” Gonzales said in an interview. “I take full responsibility for those actions.”
Gonzales added that he has made amends with his wife and asked God to forgive him, “which He has.”
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
House GOP leadership calls on scandal-ridden Tony Gonzales suspend re-election
What's the endgame here?
House Republican leaders asked Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) to suspend his 2026 reelection campaign on Thursday, coming less than a day after the scandal-ridden Texas congressman admitted he had an affair with his staffer.
“The Ethics Committee has announced an investigation into Congressman Tony Gonzales’s conduct, and we urge them to act expeditiously,” the leadership team said in a statement. “Congressman Gonzales has said he will fully cooperate with the investigation. We have encouraged him to address these very serious allegations directly with his constituents and his colleagues. In the meantime, Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election.”
The statement comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) warned people not to “prejudge” the allegations surrounding Gonzales and that they should “let the process play out.” The House Ethics Committee announced Wednesday it was forming a special subcommittee to investigate the allegations.
The panel’s move came one day after Gonzales was forced into a GOP primary run-off for his House seat.
Text messages released to the public last week showed the congressman appearing to pressure a former aide, Regina Santos-Aviles into a sexual relationship. Santos-Aviles, who was married at the time of the messages, died by suicide last year after setting herself on fire.
Gonzales had told reporters that “what you have seen are not all the facts” and said he would not resign. But he later admitted to the affair during an interview with a conservative talk show on Wednesday night.
“I made a mistake and I had a lapse in judgment,” Gonzales said in an interview. “I take full responsibility for those actions.”
Gonzales added that he has made amends with his wife and asked God to forgive him, “which He has.”
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
