Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales to step down as he faces expulsion vote

Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas announced Monday he is stepping down as he faces an expulsion vote in the coming days stemming from his affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. 

“When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office,” Gonzales said. 

Under pressure from House GOP leadership, Gonzales ended his campaign for reelection in March after he admitted to the affair. 

Texts between the woman, Regina Santos-Aviles, and Gonzales that were viewed by CBS News showed Santos-Aviles saying, “This is going too far boss” after he asked for a “sexy pic” in 2024. In another text exchange with a colleague that was viewed by CBS News, Santos-Aviles wrote, “I had affair with our boss and I’m fine.” 

Santos-Aviles died in September 2025 after setting herself on fire.

Gonzales faced bipartisan calls for his resignation earlier this year when the details of the relationship with one of his aides came to light. But GOP leaders, who have been operating with a razor-thin majority, stopped short of calling for his resignation. 

But sexual misconduct allegations against Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California also renewed attention on Gonzales’ behavior. Democratic Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico said she would put forward a measure to expel Gonzales as Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida spearheaded a resolution to remove Swalwell.  

Gonzales’ retirement news came shortly after Swalwell announced he would be leaving Congress amid sexual assault allegations. The House was expected to vote on whether to expel both congressmen later this week. If their colleagues had voted to remove both from office — which would have required a two-thirds majority vote — it would not have changed the balance of the House.  

Neither Gonzales nor Swalwell gave a precise timing of when they would vacate their seats. Leger Fernández had warned that Gonzales had until 2 p.m. Tuesday to make his resignation “effective immediately” or she would move ahead on his expulsion vote. 

Their resignations also effectively put an end to the respective House Ethics Committee investigations into their alleged misconduct, as the panel does not have jurisdiction over former members of Congress. 

“There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all,” Gonzales said Monday.