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Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, announced Thursday evening he will not seek re-election amid a House Ethics investigation into an affair he admitted to having with a former staffer.

Gonzales, a married father of 6, admitted to the affair for the first time during an appearance on a conservative talk radio show on Wednesday – a day after advancing to the GOP primary runoff for his congressional district.

"At 18, I swore an oath to defend our nation against all enemies, foreign and domestic. During my 20 years in the military and three terms in Congress, I have fought for that cause with absolute dedication to the country that I love," Gonzales said in a statement.

"From overcoming the border crisis to taking a stand with my communities after the worst school shooting in Texas’ history, my philosophy has never changed: do as much as you can, and always fight for the greater good," he continued.

MIKE JOHNSON ASKS EMBATTLED HOUSE REPUBLICAN TONY GONZALES TO DROP RE-ELECTION BID

"After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election while serving out the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I’ve always had to my district," he added. "Through the rest of my term, I will continue fighting for my constituents, for whom I am eternally grateful."

"I made a mistake, and I had a lapse in judgment, and there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions," he said on "The Joe Pags Show" Wednesday night. "Since then, I've reconciled with my wife, Angel. I've asked God to forgive me, which he has, and my faith is as strong as ever."

The House Ethics Committee also launched an investigation into Gonzales on Wednesday to determine if he engaged in sexual misconduct with a female member of his staff and whether he doled out special favors or privileges as a result.

The former staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, died after setting herself on fire outside her home late last year.

MIKE JOHNSON ASKS EMBATTLED HOUSE REPUBLICAN TONY GONZALES TO DROP RE-ELECTION BID

House GOP leaders called on the embattled representative to drop his re-election bid.

"The Ethics Committee has announced an investigation into Congressman Tony Gonzales’s conduct, and we urge them to act expeditiously. Congressman Gonzales has said he will fully cooperate with the investigation," Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and other top Republicans said in a statement this week.

"We have encouraged him to address these very serious allegations directly with his constituents and his colleagues. In the meantime, Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election," they added.

Gonzales' departure paves the way for challenger Brandon Herrera to take the nomination. Herrera narrowly edged Gonzales by a 43.33% - 41.73% margin in Texas' GOP primary for the 23rd congressional district on Tuesday, causing a runoff due to neither candidate earning 50% of the vote.

Herrera called his opponent's withdrawal from the race the "appropriate decision."

"I appreciate Tony Gonzales for making the appropriate decision," Herrera wrote on X. "I look forward to being the voice of TX23 that our district deserves. From the border, to oil theft, water rights, data centers, and many other issues. It’s an honor to be chosen and together we will make Texas proud."

Gonzales initially said he would not step down in the face of the accusations, telling reporters in late February "what you’ve seen is not all the facts."

Fox News Digital's Anders Hagstrom and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.

Russell Wilson and Sean Payton spent just one NFL season together, but tension lingered after a rocky year.

And it appears the tension that built up from that tumultuous stretch continues to linger.

Wilson’s interview on the "Bussin’ With the Boys" podcast, recorded before last month’s Super Bowl between Seattle and New England, recently resurfaced. 

In the interview, Wilson doubled down on his October comment labeling Payton "classless," saying he felt slighted by his former coach’s remarks.

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"[When] you've been on the same side or this and that, and I got the same amount of rings as you got, meaning Sean, right?" said Wilson, who won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks as Payton did coaching for the New Orleans Saints. 

"I got a lot of respect for him as a play-caller, this and that, but to take a shot, I don't like. I don't think it's necessary, you know, I mean, especially when I'm not even on your own team anymore. So, for me, there's a point in time where you have to, I've realized, I've stayed quiet for so long. There's a there's a time and place where I'm not.

RUSSELL WILSON NOT THINKING ABOUT RETIREMENT, PLANS TO PLAY IN 2026: 'I KNOW WHAT I'M CAPABLE OF'

"I know who I am as a competitor, as a warrior, as a champion, too, and, you know, I've beaten Sean, too. You know, like we've been on the same place and the same thing. And so, it's not a matter of disrespect. Just don't disrespect me."

After a rocky one-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, Wilson joined the New York Giants last offseason. However, he was relegated to a backup role after just three games.

Rookie Jaxson Dart quickly showed promise once he had the chance to start, but his season was briefly derailed by injury. Jameis Winston — not Wilson — stepped in for Dart in a handful of games. Dart threw three touchdowns in a Week 7 matchup with the Broncos, nearly pulling off an upset in what was eventually a close loss.

After the game, Payton said Dart provided a "spark" to the Giants' offense.

"I was talking to [Giants owner] John Mara not too long ago, and I said, 'We were hoping that that change would have happened long after our game,'" Payton said.

Payton also said the Broncos would have faced less of a challenge had Wilson been under center.

"Classless … but not surprised," Wilson responded in a social media post. "Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later though the media."

Despite last season's struggles and chatter about his football future, Wilson does not appear ready to call it quits in 2026.

"I wanna play a few more years for sure," he said. "I think, for me, I've always had the vision of getting to 40, at least. I think the game is different. Quarterbacks, we get hit. It's not, you know, we get hit hard, but … there's certain rules. I mean, back in the day when I started, bro, it was you just get [clobbered]. 

"I mean, so I feel like the game allows you to, you know, live a little longer, I guess. I feel healthy. I feel great. But I think, more than anything else is, do you love the game? Do you love studying? Do you love the passion for it all? Do you love the process? Do you love the practice? Do you love — everybody loves the winning part of it, but it's process. There's a journey that you got to be obsessed with. And that part I'm obsessed with."

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