Texas lawmaker admits 'lapse in judgement' in affair with aide

Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales admitted to an affair with staff member Regina Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide in September 2023. The admission came after Gonzales previously denied the relationship and as a House Ethics Committee launched an investigation into potential sexual misconduct and misuse of privileges. The investigation will examine if Gonzales unfairly favored Santos-Aviles. Gonzales maintains her death was unrelated to the affair and that she received a standard pay raise. The controversy surfaces ahead of a May primary run-off election where Gonzales seeks to retain his seat in the heavily Republican-leaning district. He faces calls for his resignation from some Republicans.

The House Ethics Committee has launched an investigation into Texas Republican Representative Tony Gonzales following allegations of an affair with a former aide. The committee will examine claims of sexual misconduct and whether Gonzales unfairly granted special favors to the employee. The investigation follows reports by the San Antonio Express-News of text messages suggesting an affair between Gonzales and Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide in September 2023. Gonzales, who is in his third term, denies the allegations and says all the facts have not been revealed. He recently faced a primary challenge and will be in a May runoff election.

Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales is facing a tough primary challenge amidst allegations of an affair with a staffer who later died. Gonzales, who has denied calls for his resignation, is running against Republican challenger Brandon Herrera in Texas' 23rd district. Herrera, a gun manufacturer, narrowly lost to Gonzales in the 2024 primary. Despite the controversy, Gonzales has received an endorsement from Donald Trump. Gonzales, a Navy veteran who first won his seat in 2020, represents a district stretching along the U.S.-Mexico border from western San Antonio to El Paso. He claims that "not all the facts" regarding the allegations have been revealed.