House Ethics Committee launches investigation into embattled Rep. Tony Gonzales

House Ethics Committee launches investigation into embattled Rep. Tony Gonzales The Texas Republican faces a primary runoff on May 26. It's not clear whether the ethics probe will be done before voters cast their ballots. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, outside the U.S. Capitol in 2023. Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images Share Add NBC News to Google March 4, 2026, 7:46 PM EST By Ryan Nobles and Raquel Coronell Uribe Listen to this article with a free account 00:00 00:00 WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee said Wednesday it will open an investigation into Rep. Tony Gonzales , R-Texas, who is accused of having had an affair with a staffer before she died by suicide last year. Gonzales exchanged sexual texts in 2024 with his then-aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, according to messages previously obtained by NBC News and verified by her widower, Adrian Aviles. Gonzales initially denied having had an affair with Santos-Aviles and refused to address the substance of the allegations after the texts came to light. It is against House rules for lawmakers to engage in relationships with their staff members. Later Wednesday, Gonzales appeared to acknowledge the affair when he was asked on the "Joe Pags Show" podcast whether he had a relationship "with this young lady who was working in your office." "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, adding that he has "reconciled" with his wife. The Ethics Committee’s chair and ranking member said in a statement Wednesday, “Pursuant to the Committee’s action, at this time, the Investigative Subcommittee shall have jurisdiction to determine whether Representative Tony Gonzales violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law, rule, regulation, or other applicable standard of conduct in the performance of his duties or the discharge of his responsibilities,” with respect to allegations that he engaged in sexual misconduct or engaged in favorit...