Six Republicans demand Rep. Tony Gonzales resign over an affair with a staffer who later killed herself. Speaker Mike Johnson says let investigations finish. President Bill Clinton faced impeachment for the same conduct and never resigned. The pattern: Congress decides case by case, and the standard changes every time.
Gonzales sent text messages in May 2024 asking staffer Regina Santos-Aviles to “send me a sexy pic.” Santos-Aviles replied, “this is too far, Tony.” Attorney Bobby Barrera authenticated the messages. Gonzales calls the allegations coordinated political attacks timed to his March 3 Republican primary.
The Office of Congressional Conduct investigated whether Gonzales violated House rules prohibiting sexual relationships between members and employees under their supervision. The probe began in November 2025, months before the affair became public. OCC completed its investigation but cannot transmit the report to the House Ethics Committee within 60 days of an election. The report arrives March 4.
Santos-Aviles died September 14, 2025. She set herself on fire at her Uvalde home. The Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide. Uvalde Police found no evidence of foul play and closed the investigation without filing criminal charges against anyone.
Police reports show Santos-Aviles told a responding officer she set herself on fire after learning her husband was having an affair with her best friend. Her husband denied the allegation. Police records document Santos-Aviles had previously threatened self-harm and was taking antidepressants mixed with alcohol. No evidence connects Gonzales to her death beyond the alleged affair months earlier.
Recent precedent favors quick resignation. Democratic Rep. Katie Hill resigned four days after the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation in 2019. Republican Rep. Tim Murphy resigned in 2017 two days after leadership pressured him following reports he urged his mistress to have an abortion. Republican Rep. Mark Souder resigned immediately in 2010 after admitting an affair with a part-time staffer.
Clinton established the counter-precedent. The House impeached him in 1998 for lying under oath about his affair with Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern. The Senate acquitted him. Clinton completed his term with approval ratings above 60 percent throughout the scandal.
Johnson invokes the Clinton defense when asked about Gonzales. “It’s too early for anybody to prejudge any of that,” Johnson told reporters. He noted that requiring members to resign based on accusations would force many from Congress.
Six House Republicans want Gonzales out: Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, and Brandon Gill of Texas. Luna told CNN she would kick Gonzales out if she had the votes. Massie said Gonzales should resign for the good of the Republican Party.
Trump endorsed Gonzales last December. The National Republican Congressional Committee and White House declined to comment on continued support. Republicans hold 218 House seats. Democrats hold 214.
Gonzales faces Brandon Herrera, a YouTube personality who lost by 354 votes in the 2024 runoff. Trump carried the district by nearly 15 percentage points. The House Freedom Caucus endorsed Herrera on February 23.
Adrian Aviles, Santos-Aviles’ widower, has not called for Gonzales’ resignation. His attorney says voters should decide. Gonzales crossed party lines on the January 6 commission and gun safety measures after the Uvalde school shooting. Those votes fueled conservative opposition.
Tony Gonzales Tests Whether Voters or Congress End Careers Over Affairs
Six Republicans demand Rep. Tony Gonzales resign over an affair with a staffer who later killed herself. Speaker Mike Johnson says let investigations finish. President Bill Clinton faced impeachment for the same conduct and never resigned. The pattern: Congress decides case by case, and the standard changes every time.
Gonzales sent text messages in May 2024 asking staffer Regina Santos-Aviles to “send me a sexy pic.” Santos-Aviles replied, “this is too far, Tony.” Attorney Bobby Barrera authenticated the messages. Gonzales calls the allegations coordinated political attacks timed to his March 3 Republican primary.
The Office of Congressional Conduct investigated whether Gonzales violated House rules prohibiting sexual relationships between members and employees under their supervision. The probe began in November 2025, months before the affair became public. OCC completed its investigation but cannot transmit the report to the House Ethics Committee within 60 days of an election. The report arrives March 4.
Santos-Aviles died September 14, 2025. She set herself on fire at her Uvalde home. The Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide. Uvalde Police found no evidence of foul play and closed the investigation without filing criminal charges against anyone.
Police reports show Santos-Aviles told a responding officer she set herself on fire after learning her husband was having an affair with her best friend. Her husband denied the allegation. Police records document Santos-Aviles had previously threatened self-harm and was taking antidepressants mixed with alcohol. No evidence connects Gonzales to her death beyond the alleged affair months earlier.
Recent precedent favors quick resignation. Democratic Rep. Katie Hill resigned four days after the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation in 2019. Republican Rep. Tim Murphy resigned in 2017 two days after leadership pressured him following reports he urged his mistress to have an abortion. Republican Rep. Mark Souder resigned immediately in 2010 after admitting an affair with a part-time staffer.
Clinton established the counter-precedent. The House impeached him in 1998 for lying under oath about his affair with Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern. The Senate acquitted him. Clinton completed his term with approval ratings above 60 percent throughout the scandal.
Johnson invokes the Clinton defense when asked about Gonzales. “It’s too early for anybody to prejudge any of that,” Johnson told reporters. He noted that requiring members to resign based on accusations would force many from Congress.
Six House Republicans want Gonzales out: Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, and Brandon Gill of Texas. Luna told CNN she would kick Gonzales out if she had the votes. Massie said Gonzales should resign for the good of the Republican Party.
Trump endorsed Gonzales last December. The National Republican Congressional Committee and White House declined to comment on continued support. Republicans hold 218 House seats. Democrats hold 214.
Gonzales faces Brandon Herrera, a YouTube personality who lost by 354 votes in the 2024 runoff. Trump carried the district by nearly 15 percentage points. The House Freedom Caucus endorsed Herrera on February 23.
Adrian Aviles, Santos-Aviles’ widower, has not called for Gonzales’ resignation. His attorney says voters should decide. Gonzales crossed party lines on the January 6 commission and gun safety measures after the Uvalde school shooting. Those votes fueled conservative opposition.
Hill resigned before findings. Murphy resigned before investigation. Souder resigned immediately. Clinton survived impeachment. Gonzales faces voters first and the Ethics Committee second. The institutional rule prohibits sexual relationships with subordinates. The political rule changes based on who decides when.
Authenticated text messages provided by attorney Bobby Barrera. Office of Congressional Conduct letter dated November 25, 2025. Uvalde Police Department reports released February 24, 2026. Bexar County Medical Examiner ruling. House Code of Official Conduct Clause 18(a). Congressional statements from NBC News, CBS News, CNN, and Axios reporting. Katie Hill resignation October 27, 2019. Tim Murphy resignation October 21, 2017. Mark Souder resignation May 21, 2010. Clinton impeachment December 19, 1998, Senate acquittal February 12, 1999.
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