Executive Summary
- The Office of Congressional Conduct has concluded its investigation into Rep. Tony Gonzales regarding an alleged affair with a former staffer.
- Transmission of the final report to the House Ethics Committee is delayed until after the March 3 primary due to procedural election rules.
- Gonzales has claimed the allegations are politically motivated and has accused the family of the deceased staffer of blackmail.
- Primary opponent Brandon Herrera is utilizing the ethics probe to argue Gonzales is a political liability for the Republican Party.
The Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC) has concluded an investigation into Representative Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) regarding an alleged improper relationship with a former staffer, although procedural rules effectively delay the release of the findings until after the upcoming Republican primary. Sources familiar with the inquiry confirmed to NBC News that the probe has been finalized as Gonzales prepares to face voters on March 3.
According to reports, the investigation focused on allegations of an affair between Gonzales and his former regional district director, Regina Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide in September. While the investigation is complete, the OCC is prohibited from transmitting its report to the House Ethics Committee within a 60-day window preceding an election involving the subject of the inquiry. Consequently, the transmission of the report is expected to occur the day following the Texas primary.
The allegations have become a central issue in the final days of the campaign for West Texas’ 23rd District. Gonzales had previously denied the affair, but recent reporting by the San Antonio Express-News cited text messages that allegedly corroborate the relationship. The congressman has not directly addressed the specific evidence in recent statements, instead characterizing the scrutiny as politically motivated.
Gonzales has publicly accused the deceased staffer’s husband and his legal counsel of attempted blackmail, sharing a photo of an email regarding a non-disclosure agreement on social media. In a statement, Gonzales asserted he would not be blackmailed and criticized his political opponents for capitalizing on a tragedy. Conversely, the attorney for the staffer’s husband, Adrian Aviles, denied the blackmail claims, stating that their actions were driven by a desire for accountability and describing the congressman’s defense as a pattern of evasion.
The controversy has been leveraged by Gonzales’ primary challenger, Brandon Herrera, who has called for the congressman’s resignation. Herrera, a pro-gun influencer, has argued that the alleged ethics violations jeopardize the Republican hold on the seat. Gonzales has previously drawn criticism from the conservative wing of his party for bipartisan votes on gun safety and the January 6 commission.
Electoral and Procedural Implications
The conclusion of the OCC investigation creates a significant variable in the 23rd District primary, testing the electoral durability of an incumbent already facing intra-party headwinds. While the 60-day rule shields the specific findings from immediate public view, the existence of the probe allows opponents to frame the narrative around ethical liabilities. Strategically, the delay shifts the procedural burden to the post-primary environment, where the House Ethics Committee will determine whether to adjudicate the OCC’s findings. This ensures that regardless of the primary result, the governance implications of the investigation will persist into the next legislative session. It is important to note that these are allegations, and the accused is presumed innocent of any ethical or legal misconduct until proven otherwise.
