GOP Lawmaker Defends Tony Gonzales Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations & Staffer’s Death
GOP Lawmaker Defends Embattled Congressman Amidst Affair Allegations
A Republican lawmaker on Wednesday defended Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) despite growing calls for the embattled congressman to resign following allegations of an affair with a former staffer who later died by suicide.
CNN anchor and congressional correspondent Manu Raju asked Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) whether he believed Gonzales should step down. Nehls defended Gonzales, explaining why he should remain in his position in the GOP-controlled House, particularly with upcoming elections, in an interview shared on X.
“He’s not been indicted for anything. Does it look good? No, I don’t like the appearance of it. He’s got a problem. Don’t get me wrong. The optics are horrible,” Nehls said. “But I would, in no way, ever resign right now… Accusations aren’t enough. If he does that, then you’ve got to give the gavel to Hakeem Jeffries. And I’m sure the Democrats would love that, I would love that, but no I wouldn’t do that for any reason.”
When Raju pressed, “Aren’t some things bigger than politics?” Nehls responded, “No, no. Not up here, not the way we do what we do in the House.”
The allegations against Gonzales stem from claims made by Adrian Aviles, the estranged husband of congressional aide Regina Santos-Aviles. Aviles reportedly discovered the affair in May 2024 through sexually explicit text messages between his wife and the married congressman.
According to Aviles, Gonzales “abused his power” by pursuing a relationship with Santos-Aviles, who served as the congressman’s regional district director. Following the discovery of the affair, Aviles alleges that staff members retaliated by isolating his wife. Santos-Aviles, 35, died by self-immolation in September 2025. Aviles now maintains that her death was a “cry for help” rather than a suicide.
Gonzales has resisted increasing pressure from fellow Republicans to resign. Representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, and Nancy Mace of South Carolina have all publicly called for his resignation. Texas Republicans Brandon Gill and Chip Roy also demanded he step down on Monday, with Gill endorsing Gonzales’s primary opponent.
Despite the calls for his resignation, Gonzales told reporters on Tuesday he would not resign. “There will be an opportunity for all the details and facts to come out,” Gonzales said. “What you’ve seen is not all the facts. And there will be ample time for all of that to come out.” He has previously stated he is the target of a blackmail attempt.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would speak with Gonzales on Tuesday, acknowledging the accusations “must be taken seriously,” but also stating the need to “allow the investigation to play out and all the facts to come out.”
Gonzales is currently facing a challenging primary race in Texas, competing against a challenger he narrowly defeated in a 2024 GOP runoff. A resignation would temporarily narrow the Republican majority in the House to 217-214 until a special election is held in Georgia, scheduled for March.
Mace has also introduced a resolution to compel the House ethics committee to publicly release its broader reports and records pertaining to allegations of sexual harassment against members of Congress.