GOP Congressman Steps Aside After Admitting Affair
A Texas Republican lawmaker says his time in Congress will end after his current term as scrutiny grows over a relationship he acknowledged having with a former staffer. According to Fox News , Tony Gonzales announced…

A Texas Republican lawmaker says his time in Congress will end after his current term as scrutiny grows over a relationship he acknowledged having with a former staffer.
According to Fox News, Tony Gonzales announced Thursday evening that he will not run for re-election while a House Ethics investigation examines the circumstances surrounding the affair.
The announcement came just a day after Gonzales publicly admitted to the relationship during a conservative talk radio appearance.
His admission followed news that the House Ethics Committee had opened an investigation into whether the relationship involved misconduct with former staff member, Regina Santos-Aviles.
Santos-Aviles, 35, died Sept. 14, 2025, one day after setting herself on fire at her home in Uvalde.
Despite the controversy, Gonzales had advanced to a runoff in the Republican primary for his congressional district before deciding to step away from another campaign.
In a statement, the congressman reflected on his career in public service and the path that led him to Washington.
“At 18, I swore an oath to defend our nation against all enemies, foreign and domestic. During my 20 years in the military and three terms in



