GOP Congressman Refuses To Resign After Text Messages Show Him Demanding ‘Sexy’ Photos From Staffer Who Later Lit Herself on Fire

Congressman Tony Gonzales, the embattled Texas lawmaker accused of having an affair with an aide who later killed herself by self-immolation, says he is not resigning from his seat. Several House Republican colleagues say Mr. Gonzales should either resign immediately or abandon his re-election campaign. First elected to serve his West Texas swing district in 2018, Mr. Gonzales has been a backbencher with a reputation as one of his party’s more moderate lawmakers. He has beaten back right-wing primary challengers who have claimed he is not “America First” enough for the GOP. Just one week before this year’s Texas primaries, however, Mr. Gonzales is more likely than not going to lose his seat, given recent polling and the sex scandal that has engulfed his campaign. On Tuesday, Mr. Gonzales told reporters after emerging from Speaker Mike Johnson’s office that he would not step down, despite some of his colleagues’ demands. “I am not gonna resign,” Mr. Gonzales told reporters several times after being questioned about his text messages to the aide and allegations that they had been having an affair before her suicide. “I work every day for the people of Texas,” he said. “There will be an opportunity for all the details and facts to come out. What you’ve seen is not all the facts.”The text messages to the former aide, Regina Aviles, were first reported by 24SightNews on Monday, and included the congressman asking questions about Aviles’ sex life and demanding a “sexy” photo from her. In other messages, he asked her what her favorite sexual position was and if she liked anal sex. “This is going too far boss,” Aviles responded. “Please tell me you didn’t just hire me because I was hot,” Aviles wrote in another message. Mr. Gonzales wrote back saying that that was not the case. In the hours after the text messages were made public, six of Mr. Gonzales’ Republican colleagues told him to either resign or quit his competitive re-election campaign. He is facing a conservative primary challenger next week who is polling ahead of the congressman. “I am so sick of people not calling this crap out,” Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna wrote before asking Mr. Gonzales to not run for another term. A fellow Texas, Congressman Brandon Gill, said America deserves “better” than Mr. Gonzales behavior. He said Mr. Gonzales should withdraw from the race. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert had a simpler message from Mr. Gonzales. In response to the text messages on Monday, Mr. Boebert simply wrote on X: “RESIGN.”Congresswoman Nancy Mace also called on him to leave immediately. “Congressional staff serve their country. They should never have to endure predatory behavior from the people they work for. Congressman Gonzales must address these allegations and resign,” she wrote in a statement. Congressmen Tim Burchett and Thomas Massie are also in the growing chorus of GOP lawmakers saying Mr. Gonzales ought to resign.

GOP Congressman Refuses To Resign After Text Messages Show Him Demanding ‘Sexy’ Photos From Staffer Who Later Lit Herself on Fire

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