Washington Post-Rep. Gonzales faces ethics investigation over alleged affair with aide [View all]

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The announcement ensures the controversy will continue to dog the Republican congressman as he heads into a primary runoff in Texas.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/03/04/congressman-gonzales-ethics-investigation-affair

The House Ethics Committee will investigate allegations that Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) had an affair with a former staff member who later died after setting herself on fire, the committee said Wednesday, ensuring that the scandal that has dogged Gonzales through his bitter primary race will continue to factor heavily as he heads into a runoff.

An investigative subcommittee will look into allegations that Gonzales “engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual employed in his congressional office” and “discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges,” Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest (R-Mississippi) wrote in a letter Wednesday.

Under House rules, lawmakers are not permitted to engage in sexual relationships with staff members.

Gonzales, a married father of six, has been accused of having an improper relationship with a then-aide, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, who died in September after lighting herself on fire in her backyard. Her death was ruled a suicide.....

Under House rules, the Ethics Committee has up to 90 days to release the OCC’s report — unless it creates an investigative subcommittee, as it has this time, in which case it must release the OCC’s findings within a year. Members of the investigative subcommittee have not been selected yet, Guest said Wednesday, suggesting that findings of the investigation will not be made public very soon. There is no timeline for Ethics Committee investigations, which can take months.