House Speaker Mike Johnson said allegations against Rep. Tony Gonzales are "very serious" but urged the ongoing investigation to "play out".
"I've been intellectually consistent about this. whether you're talking about Republicans or Democrats -- you have to let the system play out. I was against, for example, the expulsion of George Santos" because "he had been accused of a crime and indicted but not found guilty," Johnson said, according to Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman.
"If the accusation of something is going to be the litmus test for someone being able to continue to serve in the house, a lot of people would have to resign or be removed or expelled from Congress. So I think you gotta allow this to play out. I think it is very serious. The allegations are clearly very serious and Tony Gonzales will address it," he added.
NEW @SpeakerJohnson on Tony Gonzales:
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) February 23, 2026
"I think, as in every case, you have to allow the investigations to play out and all the facts to come out. I've been intellectually consistent about this. whether you're talking about Republiacans or Democrats -- you have to let the system…
However, support for Gonzales is eroding in Congress. At least four House Republicans have called on him to either resign or refrain from running for reelection. The lawmakers in question are Lauren Boebert, Brandon Gill, Tim Burchett and Nancy Mace. "He needs to go," Burchett told Axios.
The lawmaker's chances of keeping his seat seem to be fading as a result of the controversy, revolving around an alleged affair with an aide who later committed suicide.
The New York Post detailed that Gonzales would get just 21% of the support from likely voters in the March 3 primary, where he will face YouTuber and firearms enthusiast Brandon Herrera.
Herrera, in turn, is getting 45% of the support, placing him as the favorite in a potential runoff, which would take place on May 26. Moreover, 26% of respondents said they were undecided, while former Rep. Francisco "Quico" Canseco and construction executive Keith Barton got 4% of the support each.
Elsewhere in the poll, 54% of respondents said they had an "unfavorable" view of Gonzales, compared to 24% who said they still support him.
Punchbowl News noted in another report that the Office of Congressional Conduct has been looking into potential House rules violations related to the alleged affair.
The outlet noted that even if Gonzales wins his primary on March 3 he could face an investigation by the House Ethics Committee depending on the conclusions reached by the Office of Congressional Conduct.
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