Norms Impact
US congressman refuses to resign after allegations of affair with staffer
A sitting member accused of coercing a staffer into sex is refusing to step aside, testing whether congressional power can outlast credible allegations without transparent ethics accountability.
Feb 24, 2026
Sources
Summary
Rep. Tony Gonzales refused to resign after allegations he pressured a senior staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, into a sexual relationship and sent sexually explicit texts; she later died by suicide.
Republican members moved to force accountability through resignation demands and a resolution aimed at compelling public release of House ethics materials on sexual harassment allegations.
The refusal to step aside while seeking re-election keeps congressional power, staff safety, and oversight credibility tied to an unresolved allegation set.
Reality Check
Allowing a member to retain office and command staff authority amid allegations of coercive sexual conduct normalizes a workplace where power, not consent, sets the rules—and that precedent bleeds into how our government treats every worker’s rights. On these facts alone, criminal liability is not established, but the conduct described squarely implicates federal workplace protections and oversight duties, and could raise exposure if tied to coercion, threats, or misuse of official resources. If any coercion involved use of official position, retaliation, or benefits conditioned on sexual access, the governing norm against abuse of office and quid‑pro‑quo conduct is being strained in plain sight, while Congress’s ethics enforcement credibility is put on trial alongside the election.
Media
Detail
<p>On Tuesday, Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican running for re-election, told reporters he would not resign amid calls from fellow Republicans to step down over allegations of an affair with a staffer.</p><p>Gonzales is accused of sending sexually explicit text messages to senior staffer Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, including a message at 12:15am on 9 May that said: “Send me a sexy pic,” and of pressuring her to share images and enter a sexual relationship. Texas media reports said Santos-Aviles told Gonzales he was going too far, and the San Antonio Express-News reported texts in which she wrote to a colleague: “I had affair with our boss.” Gonzales has denied the affair and said he is being blackmailed and that the allegations are a political smear, while not addressing the newly released messages.</p><p>Republican Reps. Thomas Massie, Lauren Boebert, Anna Paulina Luna, Nancy Mace, and others demanded resignation, following calls from Brandon Gill and Chip Roy. Mace introduced a resolution seeking public release of House ethics committee reports and records involving sexual harassment allegations. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would speak to Gonzales and that the accusations must be taken seriously, while urging investigations to proceed.</p><p>Santos-Aviles, 35, died in September in Uvalde, Texas; her death was ruled a suicide.</p>