Texas Congressman Resigns Amid Sexual Misconduct Scandal, Facing Expulsion Vote

Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas announced his resignation from Congress on Monday evening, ending his political career as he faced mounting pressure and an imminent expulsion vote over admitted sexual misconduct with a former staffer.

“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,” Gonzales wrote in a social media statement. “It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas.”

The three-term congressman has been under intense bipartisan pressure to step down after acknowledging an affair with Regina Santos-Aviles, a former staffer who later died by setting herself on fire. House rules explicitly prohibit lawmakers from engaging in sexual relationships with staff members.

Democratic Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez of New Mexico, who had been preparing an expulsion resolution against Gonzales, responded quickly to his announcement. “He has until 2PM tomorrow—when we will file his expulsion. He better write that resignation ‘effective immediately,'” she posted on social media.

Gonzales first admitted to the inappropriate relationship during a March radio interview with conservative host Joe Pags after previously denying allegations. “I made a mistake, and I had a lapse in judgment, and there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions,” Gonzales said at the time. The married father of six added that he had “reconciled with my wife” and “asked God to forgive me.”

The scandal has deepened with additional allegations reported by The San Antonio-Express News of a second instance of sexual misconduct with another former aide, though Gonzales has not publicly addressed these claims.

Gonzales’ announcement came just hours after Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California also announced his resignation amid separate sexual misconduct allegations, including accusations of rape. Both lawmakers were under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, investigations that will likely be suspended once their resignations become official.

The dual resignations come during a period of heightened scrutiny of congressional behavior. Representative Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, had been pressuring House GOP leadership to bring expulsion votes for both members to the floor by Wednesday.

“The actions of these two Members reflect poorly on every single one of us,” Luna wrote in a letter to colleagues on Monday. “We as Members of Congress need to stand together in publicly condemning this behavior and restore the trust we have lost with the American people.”

The scandal had already derailed Gonzales’ political future months ago. In March, he suspended his reelection campaign after House Republican leadership urged him to exit the race. Shortly thereafter, both President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson withdrew their support and endorsed conservative activist Brandon Herrera, who was competing against Gonzales in a GOP primary run-off.

The timing of the dual resignations could temporarily affect the delicate balance of power in the House, where Republicans hold a razor-thin majority. If both lawmakers officially resign immediately, each party will lose one member. However, Congressman-elect Clay Fuller, a Georgia Republican who recently won a special election to fill former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s seat, is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday, helping maintain the GOP’s narrow advantage.

House ethics rules and expulsion procedures require a two-thirds majority vote to remove a member from Congress, a high threshold that hasn’t been met often in the chamber’s history. Speaker Johnson had previously urged lawmakers to allow the ethics investigation into Gonzales to conclude before considering such drastic measures.