Republican management requires congressman to drop re-election bid after admitting to affair with married staffer who died by suicide | EUROtoday

House Republican management on Thursday referred to as on Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas to drop his re-election bid after he admitted to an extramarital affair with a former staffer who was married who finally died by suicide.

The name comes after the House Ethics Committee introduced it was investigating Gonzales for his extramarital affair with Regina Santos-Aviles, a 35-year-old married girl and mom who labored in his workplace in Uvalde.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer and Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain launched a joint assertion on Thursday.

“The Ethics Committee has announced an investigation into Congressman Tony Gonzales’s conduct, and we urge them to act expeditiously,” they stated on Thursday. “Congressman Gonzales has said he will fully cooperate with the investigation. We have encouraged him to address these very serious allegations directly with his constituents and his colleagues. In the meantime, Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election.”

Over the previous 12 months, The San Antonio Express-News reported reported a number of tales about Santos-Aviles and her demise the place she set herself on fireplace.

Gonzales had initially stayed mum forward of the first this Tuesday the place he confronted YouTuber Brendan Herrera, whom he beat in a runoff in 2024. President Donald Trump had endorsed Gonzales within the race.

But on Tuesday, neither Gonzales nor Herrera earned sufficient votes to win an outright majority, triggering a runoff election in May. On Wednesday night, Gonzales admitted to an extramarital affair in an interview with conservative speak present host Joe Pagliarulo.