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Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, admitted to having an affair with a former staffer for the first time on Wednesday.
Gonzales made the confession during an appearance on a conservative talk radio show, just one day after he advanced to a runoff election in his congressional district’s GOP primary. The House Ethics Committee also launched an investigation into Gonzales on Wednesday.
« 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, » he said on « The Joe Pags Show » Wednesday night. « 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. »
« When you make mistakes like this, it’s never easy. It humbles you, » he added.
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The Ethics Committee is investigating whether Gonzales, a married father of six, engaged in sexual misconduct with a female member of his staff and whether he doled out special favors or privileges as a result.
Gonzales has said he has no plan to step down in the face of the accusations, saying last month that there are more details to be released regarding the situation.
« What you’ve seen is not all the facts, » Gonzales told reporters in late February.
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The three-term congressman argued at the time that he was being « blackmailed » in connection with the case. Controversy first arose after the San Antonio Express-News reported they obtained text messages in which the former staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, wrote to a colleague that she had an affair with the lawmaker.
Santos-Aviles later died after setting herself on fire.
Gonzales denied having anything to do with her death during his radio appearance.
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« I hadn’t spoken with Miss Santos since June of 2024. She passed September of 2025… I had absolutely nothing to do with her tragic passing. And in fact, I was shocked just as much as everyone else, » Gonzales said.
Gonzales took to social media last month and accused Santos-Aviles’ husband of « blackmail, » sharing a partial screenshot of an email from the widower and claiming he was seeking money.
« I WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED, » Gonzales wrote in a Feb. 19 post on X. « Disgusting to see people profit politically and financially off a tragic death. »
In the email posted by Gonzales, attorney Robert Barrera discussed a possible lawsuit against the lawmaker and a potential settlement with a nondisclosure agreement. The email says that the maximum recoverable amount is $300,000.
Barrera denied he was trying to blackmail Gonzales.
« It is a desperate attempt to make him look again like a political victim, » Barrera told The Associated Press last month. « There’s no blackmail here. I mean, it’s just ridiculous allegations. »
Source link : https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-rep-tony-gonzales-admits-affair-former-aide-first-time
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Publish date : 2026-03-05 13:16:00
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