House Speaker Mike Johnson is resisting calls, together with from inside his personal ranks, to strain Rep. Tony Gonzales to resign amid allegations he had an affair with a district staffer who later died by suicide, telling reporters he desires investigations to play out first.
Johnson conceded the accusations have been “very serious” and that he has urged the San Antonio Republican to address them together with his constituents instantly. But the Republican chief insisted ongoing investigations ought to play out earlier than he would step down.
“There are serious accusations, and it must be taken seriously, and I’ve told him he’s got to address that with his constituents and, and he’s in the process of doing that,” the speaker advised NCS.
“It is my understanding there’s an investigation in the state of Texas on these matters and has been going for some time, and the Office of Congressional Conduct has also, it’s been reported, they’ve been looking at it and all of that was news to me. But I … think as in every case like this, you have to allow the investigations to play out and all the facts to come out.”
As the March 3 major 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 mentioned he’s being blackmailed. But new textual content messages supplied to NCS by the staffer’s husband present that Gonzales despatched lewd messages to her, together with in a single alternate asking for a “sexy pic.”
Johnson had endorsed Gonzales’ bid for reelection to his San Antonio-area seat, which he is defending in opposition to Brandon Herrera – a YouTube character who ran in opposition to him in 2024 – in a troublesome GOP major combat.
“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 mentioned earlier 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,” he continued.
Gonzales is going through calls from his personal celebration to step down. Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Nancy Mace of South Carolina known as for his resignation Monday, and nonetheless others have known as on him to drop his reelection bid.
Top House Republicans have been carefully monitoring the allegations in opposition to Gonzales but are additionally conscious that they can’t afford to have any members depart Congress except there’s a important cause to achieve this, a number of folks shut to management have advised NCS in current days.
Johnson is coping with one of many House’s smallest margins in historical past. With full attendance within the House, Johnson and his workforce can solely afford to lose one GOP vote or a measure will fail on the ground. Further complicating issues, there are two GOP vacancies and one Democratic emptiness.
Republicans will fill a kind of vacancies after a particular election in March, although that race is predicted to go to a runoff in April. Democrats will even add one further member in April after a New Jersey particular election. Then the GOP will fill one other seat, previously held by the late Rep. Doug Lamalfa, after a particular election in August.
But Republican leaders are additionally going through an surprising problem in Florida, the place 73-year-old Rep. Neal Dunn is contemplating retiring early from the House.
Johnson argued Monday that he’s been “intellectually consistent” on the matter of whether or not members going through allegations of misconduct ought to be compelled to step down or not.
“You know, I’ve been intellectually consistent about this. Whether you’re talking about Republicans or Democrats, you have to let the system play out. … I was against, for example, the expulsion of George Santos, a while back, because he had been accused of a crime and indicted but not found guilty,” he mentioned.
“If the accusation of something is going to be the litmus test for someone being able to continue to serve in the House, you’ll have a lot of people would have to resign or be removed or expelled from Congress. So, I think you got to allow this to play out,” he added, stressing once more the claims in opposition to Gonzales are “very serious.”
Attorney Bobby Barrera, who represents Adrian Aviles, mentioned his shopper’s partner – 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 known 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.”
This story has been up to date with further particulars.