'The vote on this nomination should be postponed': Domestic abuse accusation stalls Gonzalez ICE confirmation vote

An allegation of domestic abuse has placed the U.S. Senate confirmation vote on Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez's nomination as ICE director on hold. 

U.S. Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) filed an affidavit last year regarding a past incident implicating the law-enforcement veteran and one-time member of Houston City Council, prompting Senate Democrats to postpone the vote while an investigation is conducted, according to Houston ABC affiliate KTRK.

The station reported that the document is included in a lawsuit against a Houston Community College staffer and in no way involves Gonzalez, but a campus police officer asserts in the affidavit he and another officer were summoned to a domestic dispute incident involving Melissa Gonzalez, the sheriff's spouse.

"Because of the severity of these allegations, the vote on this nomination should be postponed until it can be determined whether or not these allegations are true," Lankford said, according to The Hill.

President Joe Biden nominated Gonzalez, who was a staunch critic of ICE during the Trump administration, in April 2021.

The Senate; however, did move on his nomination afterward so Biden re-nominated the sheriff earlier.

The Houston Chronicle reported that this week was supposed to be when the Senate voted on the confirmation, but Majority Leader Chuck Schumer retracted the vote.

According to Houston's CW39, Gonzalez refuted the allegations, as did his wife. 

"It's false," Gonzalez said, according to the station. "It's all politics."

The sheriff didn't face any charges or complaints arising from the incident.

The Biden administration still supports Gonzalez's nomination.

“Sheriff Gonzalez is an extraordinarily qualified law enforcement professional with 30 years experience,” an administration official said, according to the Houston Chronicle. “He has a proven track record of implementing progressive solutions to difficult problems, while coordinating with federal partners, including ICE, to make Harris County Texas safer, and he should be confirmed without delay.”