德克萨斯州共和党众议员托尼·冈萨雷斯(Tony Gonzales)周一宣布，他将于周二从国会辞职，因其与一名工作人员的婚外情而受到驱逐的威胁。
“万物皆有生长的季节，上帝对我们每个人都有安排。明天国会回来的时候，我会申请退休。冈萨雷斯在x上的一份声明中写道:“为伟大的德克萨斯州人民服务是我的荣幸。”
上个月，在承认与一名后来自杀身亡的员工有染后，众议院共和党领导层呼吁冈萨雷斯退出竞选，冈萨雷斯因此放弃了连任竞选。当时，他仍然致力于完成他的剩余任期，他的任期将于明年1月到期。
因为他不追求下一个任期，冈萨雷斯现在寻求“退休”的决定意味着他将提前离开目前的任期。尚不清楚他离开国会的确切时间。
冈萨雷斯预计最早将于本周在国会面临驱逐投票，这需要三分之二的多数才能通过。包括许多著名共和党人在内的两党议员都强烈要求冈萨雷斯被开除或辞职。
这位四面楚歌的国会议员宣布辞职之前不久，民主党众议员埃里克·斯瓦尔韦尔(Eric Swalwell)因涉嫌性侵犯和不当行为而宣布辞职。
共和党众议员安娜·保利娜·卢娜(Anna Paulina Luna)最近几周一直在谴责冈萨雷斯的行为，她在周一表示支持这位国会议员的声明。“这是正确的事情，”她说写于X.
民主党众议员特雷莎·莱杰·费尔南德斯也要求德克萨斯州共和党人的辞职“立即”生效。
“他必须在明天下午2点之前——那时我们将申请开除他。她说，他最好写下“立即生效”的辞呈发布于X.
上个月，Gonzales承认与他的前职员Regina Santos阿比莱斯有关系，后者在性行为不端的指控浮出水面之前于去年9月去世-他说他“犯了一个错误”和“判断失误”
众议院道德委员会也对他的指控展开了调查，指控他“可能:(1)对其国会办公室的一名雇员进行了性行为不端;和/或(2)通过给予特殊优惠或特权进行不公平的歧视
就在上周，冈萨雷斯面临对一名竞选工作人员不当行为的新指控。据报道,《圣安东尼奥快报》获得了冈萨雷斯与他2020年国会竞选活动的政治主任之间的短信，据称这些短信显示冈萨雷斯多次要求提供清晰的照片。
美国广播公司新闻尚未独立证实上周浮出水面的文本的真实性，冈萨雷斯的办公室没有回应置评请求。
根据得克萨斯州法律，冈萨雷斯的国会席位可能会由州长决定的未来特别选举填补。德克萨斯州州长格雷格·阿博特的发言人没有立即得到关于潜在特别选举时间的指导。
美国广播公司新闻部还就替换一名离任国会议员的程序联系了德克萨斯州国务卿办公室，但没有立即收到回复。
冈萨雷斯自2021年以来一直代表得克萨斯州第23区。位于圣安东尼奥地区的这个地区将在11月举行共和党枪支影响者布兰登·埃雷拉和民主党律师凯蒂·帕迪拉·斯托特之间的选举。
冈萨雷斯和埃雷拉此前一直在为TX-23的共和党提名进行激烈的斗争，在两位候选人都没有获得超过50%的选票后，他们进入了决选。
随着冈萨雷斯和斯瓦尔韦尔预计都将退出国会，众议院的优势将仍然很小。众议院民主党人将减少到213名成员，而共和党人将保持在218名，包括仍与共和党人会谈的独立众议员凯文·凯利，以及预计将于周二宣誓就职的佐治亚州共和党众议员克莱·富勒。
GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales says he's stepping down from Congress
Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales announced Monday that he is stepping down from Congress on Tuesday amid threats to expel him over an affair with a staffer.
“There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas,” Gonzales wrote in a statement on X.
Last month, Gonzales dropped his reelection bid following calls from House Republican leadership to exit the race after he admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. At the time, he remained committed to completing the remainder of his term, which was set to expire in January.
Because he is not pursuing a subsequent term, Gonzales’ decision to now seek “retirement” means he is leaving his current term early. It is unclear when exactly his departure from Congress will become effective.
Gonzales was expected to face an expulsion vote in Congress as soon as this week, which would have required a two-thirds majority to pass. Members on both sides of the aisle, including many prominent Republicans, have been vocal in demanding Gonzales' expulsion or resignation.
The embattled congressman’s announcement to step down had come just moments after Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell revealed his resignation amid allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.
Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who has spent recent weeks condemning Gonzales’ actions, expressed her approval for the congressman’s announcement Monday. “This was the right thing to do,” shewrote on X.
Democratic Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez is also demanding the Texas Republican’s resignation be effective “immediately.”
“He has until 2PM tomorrow—when we will file his expulsion. He better write that resignation “effective immediately,” sheposted on X.
Last month, Gonzales admitted to having a relationship with his former staffer, Regina Santos Aviles, who died last September before the allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced -- saying he “made a mistake” and “had a lapse in judgement.”
The House Ethics Committee had also launched an investigation into allegations that he “may have: (1) engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual employed in his congressional office; and/or (2) discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges.”
Just last week, Gonzales faced new allegations of inappropriate behavior towards a campaign staffer. The San Antonio Express Times reportedly obtained text messages between Gonzales and the political director of his 2020 congressional campaign which allegedly show Gonzales repeatedly asking for explicit photos.
ABC News had not independently confirmed the authenticity of the texts that surfaced last week, and Gonzales’ office did not respond to requests for comment.
Based on Texas state law, Gonzales’ congressional seat would likely be filled by a future special election determined by the governor. A spokesperson for Texas Gov. Greg Abbot did not immediately have guidance on the timing of a potential special election.
ABC News also reached out to the Texas Secretary of State’s office regarding the procedure for replacing a departing member of Congress but did not immediately receive a reply.
Gonzales has represented the 23rd district of Texas since 2021. Located in the San Antonio area, this district will see an election in November between Republican gun influencer Brandon Herrera and Democratic lawyer Katy Padilla Stout.
Gonzales and Herrera had previously been locked in a bitter battle for the Republican nomination for TX-23, advancing to a runoff election after neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote.
With both Gonzales and Swalwell expected to exit Congress, margins in the House of Representatives will remain slim. House Democrats will be down to 213 members, while Republicans will remain at 218 – including Independent Rep. Kevin Kiley who still conferences with Republicans, as well as the addition of Republican Rep. Clay Fuller of Georgia, who is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday.
