Overview
- The House Ethics Committee formed an investigative subcommittee to examine whether Rep. Tony Gonzales engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee and whether he dispensed special favors in violation of House rules.
- Gonzales acknowledged an extramarital relationship with former aide Regina Santos-Aviles and said he will cooperate with investigators after previously denying an affair.
- Texts published by news outlets and shared by the aide’s widower show Gonzales asking for a “sexy pic” as she replied that his messages were “going too far,” though Gonzales has not confirmed the texts’ authenticity.
- The Office of Congressional Conduct completed an inquiry whose report was sent to the Ethics Committee after a pre-election blackout period, and committee rules allow the probe to extend for months.
- After Gonzales was forced into a May runoff against Brandon Herrera, House GOP leaders publicly urged him to exit the race as several Republican members pushed censure or called for his resignation.