WASHINGTON — Republican Representative Tony Gonzales from Texas has stepped down from Congress following bipartisan pressure for his expulsion.
On Tuesday afternoon, Gonzales’s resignation letter was publicly read in the House, marking his official departure at 10:59 p.m. CT.
This information builds on prior reports.
Gonzales had previously announced his decision not to run for another term after confessing to an affair with a staff member who tragically took her own life.
READ MORE: ‘This is going too far’: Texas representative accused of pursuing a staff member through explicit messages
His decision to retire was revealed on Monday, coinciding with Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California’s announcement of his resignation amid similar allegations of sexual misconduct.
Swalwell’s resignation letter was read on the House floor right after Gonzales’. His resignation letter was effective immediately.
House Republican leaders had already called on the three-term Gonzales not to seek reelection as they try to hold on to a strongly Republican district in November’s midterm elections.
The House Ethics Committee had initiated an investigation because, under House ethics rules, lawmakers may not engage in a sexual relationship with any employee of the House under their supervision.
“There is a season for everything, and God has a plan for us all,” Gonzales said in a social media post. “When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office.”
He said it has been a privilege “to serve the great people of Texas.” He gave no further details on his plans to step down. Previously, he had insisted he would serve out the remainder of his term as the GOP works to hold its slim House majority.
Last month, the top Republican and Democratic members on the House Ethics Committee said in a joint statement that an investigative panel would look into whether Gonzales engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee in his office and whether he discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges.
That announcement came the same day that Gonzales, appearing on the “Joe Pags Show,” was asked if he had a relationship with the aide, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles.
“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,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales went on to say he had reconciled with his wife and had asked God to forgive him. He also said he looked forward to the Ethics Committee investigation.
But as lawmakers returned from a two-week break on Monday, there was a growing clamor among members to take a stand against alleged sexual misconduct. Swalwell’s alleged transgressions brought renewed attention to the issue.
Comments from lawmakers on social media suggested some were open to an expulsion trade-off of sorts that would affect each party equally.
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., said both Gonzales and Swalwell “are not fit to serve in Congress given their sexual transgressions against women who work for them.”
“There’s already been a resolution announced to expel Swalwell that I will support. I will introduce a resolution to expel Rep. Gonzales,” Leger Fernandez said.
In a separate post that came after the Texas lawmaker made his retirement announcement, she challenged Gonzales to make it “effective immediately.”
“He has until 2 p.m. tomorrow – when we will file his expulsion,” she said on X.
Both Gonzales and Swalwell announced their resignations before the expulsion could be filed.
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