SAN ANTONIO – After months of resisting pressure to step down, U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales, a Republican from San Antonio, has officially submitted his resignation. This decision comes amid a series of scandals that have plagued his time in office. His resignation will take effect on Tuesday night, specifically at 10:59 p.m. Central Time.
The news of his resignation was announced on the House floor by reading clerk Tylease Alli, marking a significant moment in Gonzales’ political career. In his resignation letter, Gonzales expressed gratitude, stating, “It has been my privilege to serve the residents of Texas’ 23rd Congressional district.”
Recently, Gonzales dropped his bid for re-election after admitting to an affair, a move that caught many by surprise. Initially, he had stated his intention to complete his term in Congress despite the scandal. However, as time went on, it became clear that the pressure was mounting.
On Monday afternoon, just a day before his resignation, Gonzales announced on X (formerly known as Twitter) that he planned to file for “retirement” once Congress reconvened. This announcement coincided with increasing bipartisan support for expulsion measures against him and another representative, Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, who is also facing allegations of sexual misconduct.
The scrutiny surrounding Gonzales intensified after revelations of his affair with a Uvalde-based staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles. Reports have surfaced detailing further allegations, including an incident where Gonzales reportedly solicited nude photos from another staff member and attempted to initiate a sexual relationship with her during his 2020 campaign.
With Gonzales’ resignation, Texas Governor Greg Abbott now holds the authority to call for a special election to fill the vacant seat. The political landscape in Texas’ 23rd Congressional district is poised for change, and it will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds in the coming weeks.
