Republican Tony Gonzales to step down from Congress amid expulsion threat

The Guardian - World News Political StrategyNews ReportEN 3 min read 100% complete by Sam LevinApril 14, 2026 at 01:41 AM

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Texas Republican Representative Tony Gonzales announced his resignation from Congress amid a House ethics committee investigation and growing expulsion threats. The investigation stemmed from his admission of an extramarital affair with a former staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide in September 2025. Gonzales acknowledged the affair after the ethics committee opened its investigation into potential sexual misconduct and discriminatory practices. Text messages surfaced allegedly showing Gonzales requesting inappropriate photos from Santos-Aviles. While Gonzales initially stated he would serve out his term after ending his re-election campaign, he has now decided to retire. The effective date of his resignation remains unclear.

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Key Claims (5)

AI-Extracted

Teresa Leger Fernández said she would introduce a resolution to remove Gonzales from his seat.

factual — Teresa Leger Fernández100% confidence

Gonzales said he had "absolutely nothing to do with her tragic passing".

quote — Tony Gonzales100% confidence

His former staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, died by suicide in September 2025 at her home in Uvalde, Texas, at age 35.

factual — Article100% confidence

Gonzales admitted last month that he had an affair with an aide who later died by suicide.

factual — Article100% confidence

Representative Tony Gonzales announced he was stepping down from Congress after acknowledging an extramarital affair with a staffer.

factual — Article100% confidence

Claims are automatically extracted and should be independently verified. Attribution indicates the stated source of the claim.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Texas Tribune 30% San Antonio Express 30% Uvalde 40% House Ethics Committee 40% Eric Swalwell 50% Regina Ann Santos-Aviles ×460% Republican Party 60% Congress ×370% Texas ×370% Tony Gonzales ×1090%

Keywords

tony gonzales 100% extramarital affair 90% congressional resignation 80% sexual misconduct 70% house ethics committee 60% suicide 60% republican 50% expulsion threat 50% staffer 50%