Effort To Disclose Taxpayer-Funded Sexual Harassment Settlements in the House Gains Steam After Congressman Texts Lewd Messages to Aide Who Lit Herself on Fire

A new effort in the House to disclose any records related to taxpayer-funded sexual harassment settlements in gaining steam. The resolution to release such records, authored by Congresswoman Nancy Mace, was introduced shortly after a Republican congressman was accused of sexually harassing an aide who later committed suicide by lighting herself on fire. The lawmaker in question, Congressman Tony Gonzales, refused to resign after 24SightNews first reported his text messages to his late staffer, Regina Aviles. In those messages, Mr. Gonzales demanded that he send her a “sexy” picture, asked if she liked anal sex, and asked what her favorite sexual position is. Mr. Gonzales has not denied that he had an affair with Aviles, nor has he said that the text messages are authentic. At the time of the alleged affair, both Mr. Gonzales and Aviles were married to other people. “I am not gonna resign,” Mr. Gonzales told reporters earlier this week. “I work every day for the people of Texas … There will be an opportunity for all the details and facts to come out. What you’ve seen is not all the facts.”Despite his denials, several Republican colleagues have called on him to either resign immediately or abandon his re-election campaign in his West Texas swing district. On Tuesday, Ms. Mace — who has said Mr. Gonzales should resign — introduced a resolution which would direct the House Ethics Committee to release all information related to any settlements paid by taxpayers after an individual was accused of sexual harassment.“If you sexually harass someone in Congress you do not get to hide behind closed doors. Tony Gonzales showed us what is happening in Congress. But he is not the only one,” Ms. Mace said in a statement. “The American people deserve answers. Staff deserve answers. Women deserve answers. No more protection for predators in Congress. We are going to shine a light on every single one of them.”If the resolution passes through the House, the Ethics Committee “would be required to publicly release all reports, conclusions, draft reports, recommendations, and accompanying materials within 60 days of adoption.” The only information which would be redacted under this resolution would be any records identifying victims.Speaker Mike Johnson has not yet called for Mr. Gonzales to step aside, though he has called the allegations “detestable.” He says the Office of Congressional Conduct is currently investigating the matter, and will recommend whether or not the Ethics Committee should then begin its own probe. Ms. Mace’s resolution, despite being introduced only 72 hours ago, has already won the support of a small band of House Republicans. Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, Congressman Thomas Massie, Congressman Tim Burchett are all supportive of the effort. Mr. Burchett — the chairman of the House DOGE investigative subcommittee — wrote on X that his panel could perform its own investigation. If those four GOP lawmakers and all Democrats vote for Ms. Mace’s resolution, then it will be adopted and the records will be released in the coming months. Ms. Mace says she will file the resolution as “privileged” next week, meaning the House will be forced to vote on the measure within a matter of days.

Effort To Disclose Taxpayer-Funded Sexual Harassment Settlements in the House Gains Steam After Congressman Texts Lewd Messages to Aide Who Lit Herself on Fire

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