Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales to Resign from Congress

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales, a Republican from Texas, has announced he will resign from Congress after admitting to having an affair with a former aide who later died by suicide. Gonzales' resignation comes as both he and Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell faced investigations and calls to be removed from the House of Representatives over allegations of inappropriate relationships with staff members.

Why it matters

The resignations of Gonzales and Swalwell highlight the ongoing challenges around ethics and misconduct issues in Congress, raising questions about oversight, accountability, and the need for clearer policies governing relationships between lawmakers and their staff.

The details

In a statement, Gonzales said 'There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all.' He will file his retirement from office when Congress returns. The House Ethics Committee had opened an investigation into Gonzales' alleged affair with a female staffer who later died by suicide. Gonzales had initially denied the affair but later acknowledged it, saying both he and the staffer were married to each other at the time. Gonzales' resignation comes just hours after Swalwell also announced he would be leaving Congress over his own inappropriate relationship with a staffer and other misconduct allegations.

• On March 5, the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Gonzales' alleged affair with a female staffer.
• On April 13, Gonzales announced he will resign from Congress.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The House Ethics Committee investigations into both Gonzales and Swalwell will end when they officially retire from Congress, as the committee only has jurisdiction over current House members.