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LINCOLN — Nebraska U.S. House Republicans want to wait for the findings of a congressional investigation into Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales as he faces mounting pressure to resign from within his party amid allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a staff member who later killed herself by setting herself on fire.
The rumors of an alleged affair between Gonzales and his staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, were first reported late last year by Texas conservative news site Current Revolt. Gonzales said in an interview last November with Punchbowl News in Austin that the rumors were “completely untruthful.”
The controversy re-emerged on Capitol Hill after new details over the alleged affair that was first published by the San Antonio Express-News, which showed Gonzales begged Aviles to send him a “sexy pic” over text messages.
She texted back, “This is going too far boss,” after Gonzales asked her what her favorite sexual position was.
Also, an ex-staffer in Gonzales’ office said Santos-Aviles told him in 2024 that she had had an affair with Gonzales, according to Express News. The Office of Congressional Conduct has conducted its investigation into an alleged affair between Gonzales and a former staffer, but it can’t transmit its report to the House Ethics Committee until after the primary, according to NBC News.
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So far, five GOP House members have called for Gonzales to resign. Most of the calls for him to step down have come from the House’s more conservative members, as Gonzales is considered a moderate in the GOP conference.
Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb, told the Examiner, “The text messages are terrible, and the fact that a young mom committed suicide is extraordinarily upsetting,” but he thinks “it is best to wait for the investigation findings.”
“I’ve done this for Democrats and Republicans. If the findings show guilt, I’ll have no problem taking action as I did with George Santos, who we expelled from Congress,” Bacon said.
The U.S. House adopted a policy in 2018 that prohibits members of Congress from engaging in sexual relationships with staffers. Eastern Nebraska’s 1st District U.S. Rep. Mike Flood said during a Tuesday press conference he wants to see the ethics report first, but “if these allegations are true, it is a very serious matter and will be taken very seriously by members of Congress.”
Gonzales, the Texas Republican, is facing a tough primary on March 3. He said this week he won’t resign and blamed his GOP opponent Brandon Herrera for politicizing the death of Santos-Aviles.
GOP U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, who represents one of the most conservative districts in the country, Nebraska’s rural, sprawling 3rd Congressional District, said, “If proven true, the allegations against my colleague are incredibly troubling.”
“The investigation into this matter is ongoing, and I look forward to taking appropriate action based on the findings,” Smith said.
