{"id":2575993,"date":"2026-03-04T11:26:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T16:26:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-ethics-committee-launches-investigation-into-tony-gonzales\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T11:28:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T16:28:16","slug":"house-ethics-committee-launches-investigation-into-tony-gonzales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-ethics-committee-launches-investigation-into-tony-gonzales\/","title":{"rendered":"House Ethics Committee launches investigation into Tony Gonzales"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhouse-ethics-committee-launches-investigation-into-tony-gonzales%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2575993&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) over allegations of sexual misconduct toward a staffer adn potential workplace discrimination. The probe focuses on an alleged affair with Regina Santos-Aviles, a married former staffer who died after setting herself on fire in September 2025. The committee says it will examine whether Gonzales engaged in sexual misconduct and whether he <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >dispensed special favors<\/a> or privileges. Reported text messages, cited by Santos-Aviles\u2019s widower, allegedly show Gonzales pressuring for sexual material and continuing sexual conversations after she expressed discomfort, with allegations that his office offered her a month off and later attempted to push her out. Gonzales denies the affair, calling Santos-Aviles a disgruntled former staffer, while several Republicans have urged resignation; the investigation could affect his May runoff against Brandon Herrera, following a primary where neither candidate surpassed 50%.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">House Ethics Committee launches investigation into Tony Gonzales over affair allegations<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2522732\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11272\">House<\/a> Ethics Committee launched an investigation into Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tony-gonzales\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11307\">Tony Gonzales<\/a> (R-TX) over sordid allegations of an affair with a staff member.<\/p>\n<p>The committee announced it would be investigating &ldquo;engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual employed in his congressional office&rdquo; and &ldquo;discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4478740\/tony-gonzales-brandon-herrera-gop-primary-texas\/\">Scandal-plagued Tony Gonzales forced into GOP primary run-off for House seat<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4479177\/crenshaw-toth-texas-gop-primary\/\">Rep. Dan Crenshaw defeated by Steve Toth in Texas GOP primary upset<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4478909\/centrist-democrats-buck-hakeem-jeffries-offer-trump-30-day-clock-iran-conflict\/\">Centrist Democrats buck Jeffries and offer Trump 30-day clock to wage Iran conflict<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The investigation will revolve around allegations that he engaged in an affair with Regina Santos-Aviles, his married former staffer who died after setting herself on fire in September 2025.<\/p>\n<p>The investigation could dampen his chances of winning his runoff primary election in May, after neither he nor his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republicans\/\">Republican<\/a> opponent, Brandon Herrera, managed to win over 50% of the vote during the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4478740\/tony-gonzales-brandon-herrera-gop-primary-texas\/\">primary election <\/a>on Tuesday. The <em>Associated Press<\/em> called the race a runoff, with both candidates virtually tied at 42.5% of the vote as of 1:15 a.m. on Wednesday, with 77% of the vote counted.<\/p>\n<p>Pressure increased on Gonzales earlier this year after Adrian Aviles, the widower of Santos-Aviles, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4463344\/husband-tony-gonzales-staffer-calls-accountability\/\">released messages<\/a> he claimed were between his wife and the congressman. The messages showed Gonzales pressuring Santos-Aviles to send him sexual material, reiterating demands after her rebuttals.<\/p>\n<p>Other messages showed Gonzales pushing conversations around sexual topics, continuing after Santos-Aviles voiced discomfort.<\/p>\n<p>According to Aviles, the affair ended their marriage, and after he learned of it, Gonzales&rsquo;s office gave her a month off and tried to push her out. He then said his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/husband-of-tony-gonzaless-staffer-who-died-by-suicide-calls-for-accountability\/\" title=\"Husband of ...&#039;s staffer who died by suicide calls for accountability\">wife started &#038;ldquo<\/a>;spiraling,&rdquo; as she continued to express that she &ldquo;wanted her family back.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think that it was an intentional act,&rdquo; Aviles said of his wife&rsquo;s death. &ldquo;I think it was a cry for help. It was a cry for help that turned into a tragedy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The affair earned Gonzales significant criticism and calls to resign from several congressional Republicans. Herrera called on his primary rival to resign over the scandal.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Tony Gonzales must resign,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/brandonherreraforcongress.com\/news\/press-releases\/brandon-herrera-responds-to-gonzales-affair-confirmation-resign\/\">Herrera wrote<\/a> last month. &ldquo;He not only broke House ethics rules by having an adulterous affair with a member of his congressional staff and by using taxpayer money to fund the affair, but he also broke trust with the public by insisting that the initial reporting of the affair was false.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4479775\/four-takeaways-first-primary-election-2026\/\">FOUR TAKEAWAYS FROM THE FIRST PRIMARY ELECTION OF 2026<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Gonzales has consistently denied the affair and described her as a &ldquo;disgruntled former staffer,&rdquo; though clarifying she was a &ldquo;kind soul.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Her efforts led to improvements in school safety, healthcare, and rural water like never before. It&rsquo;s shameful that Brandon Herrera is using a disgruntled former staffer to smear her memory and score political points, conveniently pushing this out the very <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-is-the-fcc-equal-time-rule-at-center-of-talarico-interview\/\" title=\"What is the FCC equal time rule at center of Talarico interview?\">day early voting started<\/a>. I am not going to engage in these personal smears and instead will remain focused on helping President Trump secure the border and improve the lives of all Texans,&rdquo; he said last month.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ethics committee probes Gonzales over staffer affair<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2575994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-1793559714.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[72797,4381,74120],"class_list":["post-2575993","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-congressional-investigation-2","tag-ethics","tag-tony-gonzales-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-1793559714.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2575993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2575993"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2575993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2575997,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2575993\/revisions\/2575997"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2575994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2575993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2575993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2575993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}