Rep. Tony Gonzales announced Monday he is retiring from Congress, stepping away as the House Ethics Committee investigates his conduct with a former staffer. The Texas Republican said he would file his retirement when the chamber reconvened, ending months of mounting pressure over his involvement in a relationship with a now-deceased aide.
Gonzales had already abandoned his re-election campaign last month after NBC News reported that he exchanged sexually explicit texts with staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, who later died by suicide. A second former staffer subsequently came forward with similar allegations about inappropriate messages sent while she worked in his office.
His departure came the same day Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., announced his resignation amid sexual assault and misconduct allegations, triggering a wave of bipartisan calls for both lawmakers to be removed. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., who had planned to introduce an expulsion resolution for Gonzales, set a deadline of 2 p.m. Tuesday for him to announce an immediate exit.
"He has until 2PM tomorrow when we will file his expulsion. He better write that resignation 'effective immediately,' Leger Fernández posted on social media following Gonzales' announcement.
The dual departures left two other members of Congress still facing potential expulsion proceedings. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., is defending herself against 25 ethics charges after a House Ethics subcommittee found her guilty in connection with a federal indictment alleging she stole $5 million in pandemic relief funds and made illegal campaign contributions. She has pleaded not guilty in her criminal case and maintained her innocence.
Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., faces a separate ethics investigation centered on campaign finance violations, sexual misconduct, dating violence allegations, and claims he abused his position to benefit a federal contract. Mills has denied all wrongdoing.
The timing of Gonzales' seat becoming vacant creates uncertainty about whether Texas will hold a special election. Under state law, it is too late for Gov. Greg Abbott to schedule one before May elections, which would normally mean the seat would remain open until November's general election. However, Abbott invoked emergency powers in 2018 to call a special election after Republican Rep. Blake Farenthold resigned, arguing representation was needed during hurricane relief discussions. Whether those same circumstances apply remains unclear.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Gonzales' sudden exit avoids a humiliating expulsion fight, but it doesn't erase the ethics questions or absolve him of responsibility for his conduct with vulnerable staffers."
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