Rep. Tony Gonzales admits to affair with staffer who died by suicide

Rep. Tony Gonzales for the first time on Wednesday admitted to having an affair with a staffer who died by suicide in September.

"I made a mistake, and I had a lapse in judgment and there was a lack of faith. And I take full responsibility for those actions," the Texas Republican said during an appearance on The Joe Pags Show, a conservative talk show. "Since then, I've reconciled with my wife, Angel. I've asked God to forgive me, which he has. And my faith is as strong as ever."

His office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Gonzales acknowledged the affair the same day the House Ethics Committee announced it had opened an investigation into his conduct. The committee said it would investigate whether Gonzales "engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual employed in his congressional office," or "discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges."

Before Wednesday, Gonzales had denied the affair with his former aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, who died of self-immolation last year. Several Republicans have called on Gonzales to resign, though he has said he will remain in office.

He said during the radio appearance that he had not spoken with Santos-Aviles since June 2024, more than a year before her death.

"I had absolutely nothing to do with her tragic passing. And in fact, I was shocked just as much as everyone else," Gonzales said.

Gonzales' remarks on the affair and the announcement of an investigation comes a day after primary elections in Texas. Gonzales, who is running for reelection, is headed to a runoff in May. He will square off against Brandon Herrera, who is challenging Gonzales from the right.

Katy Padilla Stout, a Democrat running for Gonzales' seat, won outright in her party's primary on Tuesday and advanced to the November general election. The district is in southwestern Texas along the border with Mexico. Voters there vote reliably Republican.

Gonzales on Wednesday said he was in "one of the most difficult districts in the country," though Cook Political Report lists it as "Solid R."

"I'm the only one that can hold it. Not only win it in the primary, but also hold it in the general," Gonzales said. "So if we start losing districts like mine, we are absolutely going to lose the House and then what we'll see, is we'll see Democrats just try to impeach President Trump at every single movement."

Pressure has been building around Gonzales for weeks, as additional details about his relationship with Santos-Aviles, who was married at the time of her death, started to emerge.

In February, NBC News reported on texts it obtained between Santos-Aviles and Gonzales in which the lawmakers allegedly messaged his then-staffer "send me sexy pics." Adrian Aviles, Santos-Aviles' widower, called Gonzales a "predator" in an interview with CNN just weeks before the primary.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who is contending with a razor-thin House majority, has called the allegations against Gonzales "very serious" but has argued he is entitled to due process.