Texas lawmaker urged to resign over alleged affair with staffer

Members of both parties want the three-term congressman, who exchanged racy texts with an aide who later died, to step down. He has denied an affair.

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas faces growing calls from fellow Republicans to resign amid allegations of an affair with a former staffer who later died by suicide. Gonzales denies the allegations and refuses to step down, labeling the claims as politically motivated attacks.

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, chair of the Congressional Democratic Women's Caucus, calls for Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) to be removed from Congress and investigated over allegations of an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. This adds to bipartisan pressure on Gonzales, with some Republican colleagues also urging his resignation or reelection bid withdrawal.

Texas congressman Tony Gonzales faces increasing calls from fellow Republicans to resign over allegations of an affair with a former staffer who later died by suicide. House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasizes the importance of allowing investigations to proceed before passing judgment.

Rep. Tony Gonzales resists calls to resign amid allegations of an affair with a former staffer who later died by suicide. Gonzales is in a tough race in Texas' Republican primary on March 3 ... .

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas claimed he is being 'blackmailed' after a report alleged he had an affair with former staffer Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide in 2025. Gonzales denies the allegations and asserts he is being targeted by Santos-Aviles' husband.

The text messages indicate Gonzales pushed a sexual relationship with Santos-Aviles despite House rules, passed in 2018, prohibiting relationships between lawmakers and their staff. The messages show the congressman repeatedly pushing the conversation in a sexual direction, even as Santos-Aviles tried to deter him.

House Republican women are calling for Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, to step down after he was accused of coercing a sexual relationship with a staff member who later died by suicide. The calls stem from newly released text messages, allegedly between Gonzales and the staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, who set herself on fire in September 2025.

A Texas lawmaker is facing growing calls from within his own party to resign and end his re-election bid after details emerged about his alleged affair with an aide. Republican Representative Tony Gonzales, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, is facing a challenge from gun rights activist Brandon Herrera in a primary election next week.

For months, Gonzales, 45, has been embroiled in a scandal around the death of Regina Ann Santos-Aviles ... his former staffer, who claimed to have an affair with the congressman. Santos-Aviles, ... by suicide in September 2025. Gonzales has declined to comment on the affair allegations. But text messages, obtained and published by the San Antonio Express-News, renewed attention to the situation.

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) is under growing pressure from fellow Republicans to resign following allegations of an affair with a former staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, who later died by suicide. The controversy is intensifying ahead of Gonzales’ March 3 primary race against challenger Brandon Herrera.