House speaker tells GOP Rep. Gonzales to promptly address affair allegations
By Ellis Kim, CNN
(CNN) — House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday said he’s spoken with Rep. Tony Gonzales about the “very serious” allegations against him and told the Texas Republican to address the claims.
As the March 3 primary in the state draws nearer, allegations that Gonzales had an affair with a staffer who died by suicide last year have taken new hold. Gonzales has denied the affair and said he’s being blackmailed.
Johnson had endorsed Gonzales’ bid for reelection to his San Antonio-area seat. Gonzales faces Brandon Herrera, a YouTube personality who ran against him in 2024, in a tough GOP primary fight.
“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 said Monday when asked if he still supported the congressman.
“So it’s too early for anybody to prejudge any of that, but we’ll see how it develops,” the Republican leader continued.
Attorney Bobby Barrera, who represents Adrian Aviles, said his client’s spouse – Gonzales district staffer Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, who died by self-immolation last year – had confessed that she had been having an affair with the congressman in June 2024.
Gonzales has repeatedly criticized what he called the “personal smears” against him, and has also accused Aviles of trying to blackmail him. Barrera has denied Gonzales’ claim, saying that the “assertion of extortion is ridiculous.”
The-CNN-Wire
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CNN’s Rebecca Legato contributed to this report.
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