Gonzales Resigns Amid Scandal and Expulsion Threat

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) officially announced his resignation from Congress on Tuesday, amid bipartisan calls for his expulsion following allegations of an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. His resignation came shortly after Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) also declared his resignation amidst sexual misconduct allegations.

According to Fox News, Gonzales' brief resignation letter was read aloud on the House floor and marked his exit from Congress amid scandal just before midnight on Tuesday. 'It has been my privilege to serve the residents of Texas's 23rd congressional district,' Gonzales wrote in his letter.

The move came as Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., introduced an expulsion resolution against Gonzales just before his resignation letter was read aloud on the House floor after he failed to meet her deadline to resign. 'Representative Tony Gonzales has admitted to the wrongdoing, he admitted to having sexual relationships, which is basically sexual assault, of his staff members,' Leger Fernández said in a video statement on X.

Gonzales had initially claimed he was the victim of an extortion plot when news of the affair first broke. He later admitted to having an affair with his former staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, who died by setting herself on fire. However, he denied a second accusation of sexual misconduct with a former aide reported by The San Antonio-Express News.

House Republican leaders had already urged Gonzales not to seek reelection, and the House Ethics Committee initiated an investigation into his conduct. As reported by PBS, Gonzales initially claimed he was the victim of an extortion plot when news of the affair first broke. He also demanded full access to the Uvalde Police report.

Gonzales' decision to resign suggests a shift in his response to the allegations and the mounting pressure from both sides of the aisle. The announcement came shortly after Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) also declared his resignation from Congress following allegations of sexual misconduct. Both lawmakers were facing potential expulsion votes due to their respective scandals.

According to UPI, Gonzales admitted to having an affair with a married staffer who was also married at the time. He denied any involvement in her death and claimed he only acknowledged the affair after months of denial during a podcast appearance. Gonzales pulled out of his primary race 'after deep reflection and with the support of my loving family,' as reported by UPI.

The Congressional investigations into both Gonzales and Swalwell will end when they officially retire from Congress, as the House Ethics Committee only has jurisdiction over current members, according to UPI. Both lawmakers resigned just hours apart, marking a significant development in their respective scandals.