Unlike Democrats, who said that Eric Swalwell taking advantage of his staffers was “an open secret” for years, Republicans are forcing one of their own to resign or be kicked out. Tony Gonzales said Monday evening that he will resign from the U.S. House of Representatives, citing personal faith as he faces mounting pressure over admitted sexual misconduct with a former staffer.
In a social media post, Gonzales stated: “There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas.”
There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas.
— Rep. Tony Gonzales (@RepTonyGonzales) April 13, 2026
The announcement comes as Gonzales confronts an expected expulsion vote that could take place as soon as this week. A spokesperson for the congressman did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and it remains unclear when his resignation will take effect.
Gonzales, who is married and has six children, previously acknowledged during a March radio interview that he had an affair with a former staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, who later died by suicide. He made the admission after initially denying any sexual relationship.
“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,” Gonzales told conservative radio host Joe Pags. “Since then, I’ve reconciled with my wife, Angel. I’ve asked God to forgive me, which he has, and my faith is as strong as ever.”
House rules prohibit members of Congress from engaging in sexual relationships with their staff. Gonzales has faced bipartisan criticism and calls to step down, with Teresa Leger Fernandez vowing to move forward with an expulsion resolution if he did not resign.
“He has until 2PM tomorrow—when we will file his expulsion. He better write that resignation ‘effective immediately,'” Leger Fernandez posted on social media.
The Texas Republican has not publicly addressed a separate allegation of sexual misconduct involving another former aide, first reported by the San Antonio Express-News.
Gonzales, a three-term congressman, had already suspended his reelection bid in March after House Republican leadership urged him to exit the race. Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson later withdrew their support and backed conservative activist Brandon Herrera in the GOP primary runoff.
The development follows a similar announcement earlier Monday from Eric Swalwell, who said he plans to resign amid separate sexual misconduct allegations, including claims of rape. Swalwell has not specified an exact departure date.
Both lawmakers were under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, which is expected to pause its probes once they formally step down. Johnson had previously called for allowing the ethics process to run its course before pursuing expulsion.
Anna Paulina Luna had been pushing for a swift expulsion vote in Swalwell’s case and warned of broader institutional consequences in a letter to colleagues.
“The actions of these two Members reflect poorly on every single one of us,” Luna wrote. “We as Members of Congress need to stand together in publicly condemning this behavior and restore the trust we have lost with the American people. We are the company we keep.”
Expelling a member of Congress requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House.
If both resignations take effect quickly, the departures could temporarily narrow the Republican majority. However, Congressman-elect Clay Fuller, R-Ga., is expected to be sworn in Tuesday after winning a special election to fill the seat previously held by Marjorie Taylor Greene.
[Read More: China Warned About Helping Iran]
