Gonzales defies resignation calls amid alleged staffer affair and related death
TL;DR
Texas Republican Tony Gonzales refused to resign amid Republican pressure over allegations that he pressured a former staffer into a sexual relationship, with explicit texts cited; the staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, died by suicide in 2023. GOP colleagues urged resignation, while House Speaker Mike Johnson said the accusations must be taken seriously but did not call for him to quit. Gonzales denies the affair, claims he’s being blackmailed, and says full facts will emerge as investigations proceed, adding turmoil to his re-election bid in a competitive Republican primary.
Topics:top-newspolitics#house-ethics-committee#politics#resignation-calls#staffer-affair#text-messages#tony-gonzales
- US congressman refuses to resign after allegations of affair with staffer The Guardian
- Speaker Johnson tells House Republican to address affair allegations but says he shouldn’t resign CNN
- Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales Pressured to Resign Over Sexual Messages to Staff Member The New York Times
- Texts show Rep. Tony Gonzales asked for explicit photos from aide who later died by suicide The Texas Tribune
- Texas lawmaker urged to resign over alleged affair with staffer BBC
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