House Republican faces ethics investigation over affair allegations
Tony Gonzales faces House Ethics Committee investigation over allegations he engaged in sexual misconduct with Regina Ann Santos-Aviles
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, over allegations that he had an affaire with a political aide.
Committee leaders announced Wednesday that they launched the investigation into whether Gonzales, a married father of six, engaged in sexual misconduct with a female member of his staff and whether he doled out special favors or privileges as a result.
Gonzales has said he has no plan to step down in the face of the accusations, saying there are more details to be released regarding the situation.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"What you’ve seen is not all the facts," Gonzales told reporters last month.
REP TONY GONZALES HIT WITH HOUSE ETHICS PROBE OVER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, is facing a House ethics investigation. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The three-term congressman argued last month that he was being "blackmailed" in connection with the case. Controversy first arose after the San Antonio Express-News reported obtained text messages in which the former staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, wrote to a colleague that she had an affair with the lawmaker.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Santos-Aviles later died after setting herself on fire.
Gonzales took to social media last month and accused Santos-Aviles' husband of "blackmail," sharing a partial screenshot of an email from the widower and claiming he was seeking money.
"I WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED," Gonzales wrote in a Feb. 19 post on X. "Disgusting to see people profit politically and financially off a tragic death."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN ACCUSED OF AFFAIR WITH LATE AIDE TO FACE RUNOFF ELECTION
Left: Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, is seen in the U.S. Capitol before the House voted to keep the government funded into March, on Thursday, January 18, 2024; Right: Regina Santos Aviles (Left: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Right: Regina Santos Aviles on Facebook)
In the email posted by Gonzales, attorney Robert Barrera discussed a possible lawsuit against the lawmaker and a potential settlement with a nondisclosure agreement. The email says that the maximum recoverable amount is $300,000.
Barrera denied he was trying to blackmail Gonzales.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It is a desperate attempt to make him look again like a political victim," Barrera told The Associated Press last month. "There’s no blackmail here. I mean, it’s just ridiculous allegations."
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, has accused a deceased staffer's husband of "blackmail." ((Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images))
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According to Barrera, the email that Gonzales posted online was part of back-and-forth discussions he had been having with the lawmaker’s attorney after Aviles decided he wanted to recover damages through a potential lawsuit on behalf of his wife under the Congressional Accountability Act.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Associated Press contributed to this report.