Rep. Tony Gonzales announces resignation from Congress
Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales announced that he will resign from Congress after he admitted to having an affair 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 an April 13 post on X.
Gonzales initially denied the allegations and claimed the reports were a blackmail attempt, the El Paso Times, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. Gonzales appeared on the Joe Pags podcast, released on March 4, and admitted to the affair, saying he "made a mistake."
He ended his reelection bid in March after U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican leaders called on Gonzales to withdraw from a May runoff for the party's nomination against gun activist Brandon Herrera.
The announcement comes on the same day that Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell also announced he would withdraw from the House as he faces accusations of sexual assault and misconduct. The California Democrat called those accusations "absolutely false."
What are the allegations against Tony Gonzales?
Gonzales has been embroiled in controversy after allegations spread about an affair with his late ex-staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles.
In February, NBC News reported that Gonzales sent Santos-Aviles, who died in September 2025, multiple sexually explicit texts in May 2024. The San Antonio Express-News also reported that Santos-Aviles admitted to an improper relationship in text messages with her former colleague.
"I had a lapse in judgement and there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions," Gonzales said on the podcast. "I've asked God for forgiveness, which he has, and my faith is as strong as ever."
House reacts to Gonzales' resignation
House members on both sides of the aisle approved of Gonzales' resignation on social media.
New Mexico Democratic Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández said on X shortly after Swalwell's resignation that "every member who sexually harasses or abuses their staff needs to go" before threatening to bring up an expulsion vote against Gonzales.
"Public outrage + resolutions = accountability for sexual abuse of women," she added after Gonzales' announcement.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Florida, called Gonzales' resignation "the right thing to do" on social media.
"We have successfully drained part of the swamp this week with the resignation of two very corrupt members of Congress," Luna wrote on X after Gonzales' announcement.
Former U.S. Rep. George Santos, who last year received a prison commutation from President Donald Trump, had some harsh words for Gonzales.
“GOOD RIDDANCE SCUMBAG!” Santos said in an April 13 post on X. “May you never find peace for what you did to that poor woman.”
This story has been updated with new information