Rep. Tony Gonzales admits affair with aide ahead of runoff race, ethics probe

A Texas congressman is acknowledging a sexual relationship with a former staff member who later died by suicide

His admission comes as he heads into a Republican runoff while facing a new House Ethics Committee investigation

In a radio interview Wednesday, Representative Tony Gonzalez called the relationship a lapse in judgment

He insisted he had nothing to do with the former aide's death and that it came as a shock

Was there a relationship with this young lady who was working in your office

You know, very, very direct, Pags. 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 former aide, Regina Santos Aviles, died in September 2025 after setting herself on fire

Her death was ruled a suicide. The House Ethics Committee has now opened an investigation into whether Gonzalez engaged in sexual misconduct with an employee or gave a staff member special treatment

House rules prohibit lawmakers from having sexual relationships with staff under their supervision

The controversy comes as Gonzalez prepares for a runoff against hard-right challenger Brandon Herrera after neither candidate cleared 50 percent in the primary for Texas' 23rd District

Some Republicans have called on Gonzalez to resign. He says the situation has been politicized and that he plans to cooperate with investigators

I look forward to the ethics committee starting an investigation. I appreciate the opportunity to be able to provide all the facts and all the details that lead to exactly what occurred in the entire situation

The ethics committee has not said how long the investigation will take