Mike Johnson Tells Rep. Tony Gonzales To End Reelection Campaign | EUROtoday

WASHINGTON ― House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Thursday referred to as on Rep. Tony Gonzales to drop his reelection marketing campaign after the Texas Republican admitted he had an affair with a staffer.

In a joint assertion with different prime House Republicans, Johnson mentioned Gonzales is below investigation by the House Ethics Committee and that they’ve inspired him to deal with the scandal together with his colleagues and his constituents.

“In the meantime, Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election,” Johnson mentioned within the assertion with Reps. Steve Scalise (La.), Tom Emmer (Minn.) and Lisa McClain (Mich.).

Johnson’s determination to tug help from Gonzales was most likely made simpler by the truth that Gonzales gained fewer votes than his predominant opponent, Brandon Herrera, in Tuesday’s major election in Texas. Gonzales and Herrera superior to a runoff election that can happen in May.

After denying it for months, Gonzales admitted in a radio interview Wednesday he’d had a sexual relationship with a staffer in 2024, which is in opposition to House guidelines. Last yr, the aide set herself on fireplace and died following what her husband referred to as a depressive “spiral” triggered by his discovery of the affair with Gonzales. Text messages confirmed Gonzales requested for “a sexy pic” and made different sexual advances late at evening in 2024.

“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 instructed conservative broadcaster Joe Pags. “Since then, I’ve reconciled with my wife, Angel. I’ve asked God to forgive me, which he has. And my faith is as strong as ever.”

Several of Gonzales’ Republican colleagues have mentioned he ought to outright resign relatively than simply stop his marketing campaign.

After saying he took “full responsibility” for the affair within the radio interview, Gonzales struck a combative tone, lashing out at his late staffer’s husband. The congressman mentioned the widower was utilizing his spouse’s loss of life to extort a $300,000 settlement, claiming his personal infidelity led to her loss of life, and even saying the media has distorted the story to smear his good title.

“From day one, this has been about power and money,” Gonzales mentioned. “You cannot hate the media enough.”