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WASHINGTON (CN) — Texas Representative Tony Gonzales is facing a House Ethics Committee probe over accusations he had an affair with a former congressional staffer who later died by suicide, the panel announced Wednesday.
It’s another setback for Gonzales, whose reelection campaign to the Lone Star State’s 23rd Congressional District has been plagued by scandal — and the ethics panel’s announcement comes just hours after a primary challenger from his right flank forced the congressman into a runoff contest.
In a statement Wednesday morning, House Ethics Committee chairman and Mississippi Representative Michael Guest said his panel would convene an investigative subcommittee to determine whether Gonzales violated the congressional code of conduct.
Guest, alongside Democratic ranking member Representative Mark DeSaulnier of California, said the subcommittee would probe accusations that the congressman “engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual employed in his congressional office.” The ethics panel will also investigate whether Gonzales “discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges.”
Ahead of Tuesday’s primaries in Texas, reports surfaced that Gonzales, who is married, had a relationship with Regina Santos-Aviles, a former staffer. According to Santos-Aviles’ husband, the congressman in 2024 reportedly sent her text messages asking for explicit photographs. His former staffer told Gonzales at the time he was “going too far.”
In September, Santos-Aviles set herself on fire in the backyard of her Uvalde, Texas, home. She died one day later, after telling police officers she had learned her husband was having an affair.
A spokesperson for Gonzales’ office did not immediately return a request for comment on the Ethics Committee probe. The Texas Republican has so far refused to acknowledge whether he sent explicit messages to his former staffer.
Despite that, Gonzales in recent weeks has faced calls to resign from some congressional Republicans, and others have said he should be censured. But some GOP lawmakers have worried they can’t afford to lose a vote in the narrowly divided House should the congressman be forced out. House Speaker Mike Johnson has offered a cautious assessment, telling reporters last month he found the accusations against Gonzales “detestable” but that Congress should allow the investigation to run its course.
It’s unclear how long an Ethics Committee probe into the lawmaker will last — the panel typically does not release statements about its progress until it publishes a final report. The committee has said it will announce members serving on the investigative subcommittee once they’ve been selected.
But as Gonzales faces an internal probe into his conduct, he is also facing a legitimate electoral threat from Brandon Herrera, a 30-year-old gun rights advocate and YouTuber seeking to unseat the congressman in a primary challenge.
In Tuesday’s Texas primary, Herrera narrowly edged out Gonzales, capturing roughly 43% of the vote. Gonzales, with a showing of nearly 42%, was close enough to trigger a runoff election according to state election rules.
President Donald Trump initially endorsed Gonzales.
Herrera has attacked Gonzales from the right, pressing him on his previous support for gun control regulations following the Uvalde school shooting which killed 21 people, including 19 children. And Herrera has leaned heavily on his opponent’s scandal, calling Gonzales a “sex pest” and an “evil man” and echoing calls for his resignation.
After it was confirmed Tuesday night that Herrera and Gonzales would head to a runoff, the candidate shared a post on X from the National Association for Gun Rights celebrating the results. “Tony’s sins against the 2nd Amendment are coming home to roost,” read the post, accompanied by clips from Herrera’s YouTube channel. “Gun owners will see you in May, and they WILL win!”
Herrera, also known as The AK Guy, previously challenged Gonzales in 2024, losing in a primary contest by just one percentage point.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). Visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources.
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