Tony Gonzales Announces Resignation from Congress

Embattled Republican Representative Tony Gonzales announced his resignation from Congress on Monday, preempting a potential expulsion vote. This decision comes just days before a high-stakes vote that could have made him only the seventh member in history to be expelled from the House of Representatives.

Ethics Investigation and Allegations

The Texas Republican’s departure follows an investigation by the House Ethics Committee concerning a relationship with a former senior aide. Gonzales had acknowledged an affair with a former staffer, a breach of House rules. Tragically, the former staffer later died by suicide.

Further complicating matters, the San Antonio Express-News recently published previously unreported text messages allegedly sent by Gonzales in June 2020 to his campaign’s political director. These texts, as reported by the Express-News, included inappropriate inquiries and requests for nude photos. The staffer confirmed the relationship remained non-physical.

Pressure from Both Sides of the Aisle

Gonzales, alongside Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell, faced intense pressure from colleagues to resign following the allegations. Swalwell announced his own resignation shortly before Gonzales’ announcement. Both representatives were facing scrutiny over alleged inappropriate relationships with staff members.

Expulsion Efforts

Behind the scenes, a bipartisan plan was developing to force separate expulsion votes. Democratic Representative Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico and Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida were each preparing to draft expulsion measures. Luna’s measure was targeted at Swalwell, while Fernández’s aimed at Gonzales.

GOP Response and Gonzales’ Statement

While GOP leaders had withdrawn their support from Gonzales, they initially stopped short of calling for his immediate resignation, instead urging him to withdraw from the election – a request he ultimately fulfilled.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), 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.”

Ongoing Developments

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. You can find further coverage on CNN.

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