Tony Gonzales Announces He’s Leaving Congress, Avoiding Likely Expulsion Vote

Gonzales and Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell both announced on Monday that they would resign from their seats.

Representative Tony Gonzales

Rep. Tony Gonzales speaks to media outside the U.S. Capitol. (Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via AP Images)

Embattled Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales will resign from Congress on Tuesday, he told NOTUS, announcing his departure on the same day that Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell announced his own resignation.

Last month, Gonzales admitted to having an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. Shortly after he advanced to a runoff in Texas, he said that he would not be running for reelection, but now he’ll officially leave Congress tomorrow.

“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 said in a post on X.

Both Swalwell and Gonzales faced growing calls for expulsion from their colleagues, many of whom said they would support kicking them both out of Congress.

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Gonzales came under fire for having an affair with a staffer and sending her sexual messages while she worked for him. The Texas Republican is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee but that will likely close following his resignation.

Swalwell faces allegations of sexual harassment and assault from at least four women, including one who claims he raped her. He has denied wrongdoing and says he will fight the allegations after he leaves Congress.

He suspended his California gubernatorial campaign on Sunday and announced his congressional resignation on Monday.