Gonzales acknowledges extramarital affair as ethics probe opens

US Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas acknowledged an extramarital affair with married aide Regina Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide last year, calling it a 'mistake' and a 'lapse in judgement' as the House Ethics Committee opened an inquiry into possible sexual misconduct and favoritism; the disclosure comes ahead of a GOP primary runoff and amid calls from fellow Republicans for his resignation, with text messages reportedly showing him seeking a sexy photo and Santos-Aviles’s husband alleging workplace turmoil after the affair's discovery. Gonzales says the aide's death was unrelated and that he did not reward her with special privileges.