(CNN) – House Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned on Monday that he’s had a conversation with Rep. Tony Gonzales regarding the “very serious” accusations against him and advised the Texas Republican to confront these claims.
As the March 3 primary approaches in Texas, allegations have resurfaced that Gonzales had an affair with a staff member who tragically took her own life last year. Gonzales has denied the allegations and claims he is being blackmailed.
Johnson had previously endorsed Gonzales’ re-election campaign for his San Antonio-area seat. Gonzales is up against Brandon Herrera, a You Tube personality who also ran against him in 2024, making this a challenging GOP primary battle.
“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 added.
Attorney Bobby Barrera, representing Adrian Aviles, stated that Aviles’ spouse – Gonzales district staffer Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, who died by self-immolation last year – had confessed in June 2024 to having an affair with the congressman.
Gonzales has continuously criticized what he refers to as “personal smears” against him and has accused Aviles of attempting to blackmail him. Barrera has rejected Gonzales’ claim, calling the “assertion of extortion ridiculous.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. CNN’s Rebecca Legato contributed to this report.
Source link
™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. CNN’s Rebecca Legato contributed to this report.
Source link
