Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales told reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday that he would not leave office or drop his reelection campaign after calls for his resignation began to pile up.
His statement comes after text messages purportedly sent by Gonzales, in which he sought sexually suggestive pictures from a staffer who later died by suicide, started circulating online.
“I’m not going to resign,” Rep. Tony Gonzales told reporters, adding: “There will be opportunity for all the details and facts that come out. What you’ve seen is not all the facts.”
Gonzales did not deny any of the allegations on Tuesday and did not respond to a request for comment from NOTUS.
Trending
Several congressional Republicans joined Democrats Monday in calling for the Texas congressman to step down over the alleged affair, which ended when the staffer fatally set herself on fire last year outside her home.
Among those calling for Gonzales’ resignation are Reps. Thomas Massie and Tim Burchett, who joined a trio of Republican women who first called for him to step down.
“I’m joining Nancy Mace, Lauren Boebert, and Anna Paulina Luna in calling for Representative Tony Gonzales to resign immediately. Where are the other men in the GOP?” Massie posted on X Tuesday.
Massie also suggested that President Donald Trump’s endorsement of the Texas representative — which came in December — “should be revoked.”
Gonzales — a father of six — has been involved in a major scandal since last year, when The Daily Mail reported that the lawmaker and his aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, had been involved in an extramarital relationship.
On Monday, at least four Republican lawmakers had called for Gonzales to resign or not seek reelection to Texas’ 23rd Congressional District after messages depicting the sexual advances started circulating online.
By Tuesday, at least half a dozen Republicans joined in.
“He needs to go,” told Axios.
“He should just step out of the race,” Rep. Chip Roy of Texas told The Hill, saying it was the best path for the party and the country to move forward.
But other Republicans have been more cautious.
Speaker Mike Johnson — who had previously said an investigation needed to take place before deciding on Gonzales — told reporters Tuesday he was set to speak with the lawmaker.
“I’ll talk to him today,” Johnson said. In a later interview on CBS News, Johnson called the allegations “detestable” but declined to pass judgment.
“My understanding is he’s denied a lot of this, and we’re trying to sort it out,” he said, while confirming the two had not yet spoken.
Gonzales is locked in a bitter reelection campaign with firearms YouTuber Brandon Herrera, who is known online as “The AK Guy.” Herrera has condemned his opponent’s actions and earned the endorsement of the House Freedom Caucus Fund and prominent Republican lawmakers, including Reps. Chip Roy and Mary Miller.
“Brandon [Herrera] should have been elected last cycle, and he should be elected this cycle.” Roy posted on X Monday.
Author
