House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday stated he’s spoken with Rep. Tony Gonzales in regards to the “very serious” allegations against him and advised the Texas Republican to address the claims.
As the March 3 main within the state attracts nearer, allegations that Gonzales had an affair with a staffer who died by suicide final 12 months have taken new maintain. Gonzales has denied the affair and stated he’s being blackmailed.
Johnson had endorsed Gonzales’ bid for reelection to his San Antonio-area seat. Gonzales faces Brandon Herrera, a YouTube character who ran in opposition to him in 2024, in a troublesome GOP main struggle.
“I endorsed Tony before all these allegations came out. They’re obviously very serious, and I’ve spoken with him and told him he’s got to address that in an appropriate way with his constituents and all of that,” Johnson stated Monday when requested if he nonetheless supported the congressman.
“So it’s too early for anybody to prejudge any of that, but we’ll see how it develops,” the Republican chief continued.
Attorney Bobby Barrera, who represents Adrian Aviles, stated his consumer’s partner – Gonzales district staffer Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, who died by self-immolation final 12 months – had confessed that she had been having an affair with the congressman in June 2024.
Gonzales has repeatedly criticized what he referred to as the “personal smears” in opposition to him, and has additionally accused Aviles of making an attempt to blackmail him. Barrera has denied Gonzales’ declare, saying that the “assertion of extortion is ridiculous.”