Ethics Committee launches probe into embattled Rep. Tony Gonzales
WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee announced Wednesday that it will open an investigation into Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who is accused of having an affair with a staffer before committing suicide last year.
Gonzales exchanged sexual texts in 2024 with his then-assistant, Regina Santos-Aviles, according to messages previously obtained by NBC News and verified by his widower, Adrian Aviles. Gonzales initially denied having an affair with Santos-Aviles and refused to answer the merits of the allegations after the texts came to light.
It is against House rules for lawmakers to form relationships with members of their staff.
Later Wednesday, Gonzales appeared to acknowledge the affair when asked on the “Joe Pags Show” podcast if he had a relationship “with this young lady who worked in your office.”
“I made a mistake and I made an error in judgment. There was a lack of faith and I take full responsibility for those actions,” Gonzales said, adding that he had “reconciled” with his wife.
The chairman and ranking member of the Ethics Committee said in a statement Wednesday, “Consistent with the committee’s action, at this time the Investigative Subcommittee will have jurisdiction to determine whether Rep. Tony Gonzales violated the Code of Official Conduct or any applicable law, rule, regulation, or other standard of conduct in the performance of his duties or the exercise of his responsibilities,” with respect to allegations that he engaged in sexual misconduct or favoritism.
Gonzales responded to the announcement: “I welcome the opportunity to present all the facts to the committee. »
In the podcast interview, he said: “I appreciate the opportunity to be able to provide all the facts and all the details that lead to exactly what happened in the entire situation. »
The bipartisan committee said it would select and announce which lawmakers would serve on the investigating subcommittee.
In addition to the ethics investigation, the Office of Congressional Conduct conducted an investigation into Gonzales, the results of which will be delivered to the Ethics Committee on Wednesday. The office was barred from sending the report to the committee earlier because it was completed within 60 days of the Texas primary in which Gonzales participated on Tuesday.
Gonzales failed to get 50% of the vote in that race, forcing him into a runoff against his Republican challenger Brandon Herrera. Herrera narrowly led Gonzales in the first primary vote Wednesday. Gonzales beat Herrera by just a few hundred votes in a similar 2024 runoff.
It is unclear whether the Ethics Committee’s investigation will conclude before the runoff, scheduled for May 26. The committee’s rules say it must process a report from the Office of Congressional Conduct within 45 days of receiving it, but can defer its report if it falls within 60 days before a relevant election.
A formal investigation into Gonzales does not necessarily mean the committee’s final report will be made public. The committee only has jurisdiction over sitting members of Congress, so if Gonzales resigns or is removed from office before the report is completed, the investigation could stop.
Several of Gonzales’ Republican colleagues have urged him to resign or end his campaign, including Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Brandon Gill of Texas. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida called the text messages “disgusting” but stopped short of calling for his resignation.
Gonzales said last month he would not resign over the allegations.
Mace forced a vote Wednesday on a resolution that would order the ethics committee to make public all reports about allegations of sexual misconduct or harassment by lawmakers or congressional aides. The House voted to send Mace’s resolution back to committee, effectively killing it.
