Pressure mounts on Tony Gonzales to step down over sexually explicit messages to late staffer
Who's accountable for the results?
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) is facing calls to step down from office or suspend his 2026 reelection bid from at least four of his fellow House Republicans after evidence emerged that he sent explicit late-night text messages to a staffer who died by setting herself on fire.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) was the first to do so, telling the Washington Examiner that Gonzales should be ashamed of his conduct and needed to “resign immediately.”
“I’ve never been a fan of Open Borders Tony,” Boebert said in a text message. “Liars and cheaters aren’t my favorite either. The late night text messages released today seemingly show a perverted boss drunkenly coercing a vulnerable staffer into explicit conversations, pressing her for ‘sexy pics,’ asking about her favorite sexual positions, and even inquiring if she liked ‘anal’ all while she repeatedly pushed back, telling him it was ‘going too far, boss’ and questioning if he was sober. This kind of abuse of power has no place anywhere, let alone in Congress, and Tony Gonzales should be ashamed and RESIGN IMMEDIATELY.”
Calls for Gonzales to resign grew on Monday after screenshots of text messages between Gonzales and Regina Santos-Aviles, a former aide who set herself on fire last year, were made public. The messages appear to show the congressman pressing Santos-Aviles to send sexual pictures late at night.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) called the text messages “disgusting and inexcusable” in a statement on Monday and demanded Gonzales leave office “immediately.”
“We have ZERO tolerance for those who abuse their power over others,” Mace said. “Zero. It does not matter what party you are in, what title you hold, or how powerful you think you are. You do not get a free pass.
“Tony Gonzales should resign immediately and be held fully accountable for what he’s done. She and her family deserved better. And Texans deserve a congressman who does not prey on women.”
Two House Republicans are not going so far as to ask Gonzales to resign but instead are encouraging him to withdraw from the 2026 race.
Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) said in a post that Gonzales should “drop out” of his 2026 reelection campaign because “America deserves better.”
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) said in a post that “the entire Texas delegation, as well as every single other Member of Congress, should be condemning a sitting Member of Congress asking for explicit photos of their staff.”
“As a woman, this is really disgusting to see,” Luna continued. “Not to …
Who's accountable for the results?
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) is facing calls to step down from office or suspend his 2026 reelection bid from at least four of his fellow House Republicans after evidence emerged that he sent explicit late-night text messages to a staffer who died by setting herself on fire.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) was the first to do so, telling the Washington Examiner that Gonzales should be ashamed of his conduct and needed to “resign immediately.”
“I’ve never been a fan of Open Borders Tony,” Boebert said in a text message. “Liars and cheaters aren’t my favorite either. The late night text messages released today seemingly show a perverted boss drunkenly coercing a vulnerable staffer into explicit conversations, pressing her for ‘sexy pics,’ asking about her favorite sexual positions, and even inquiring if she liked ‘anal’ all while she repeatedly pushed back, telling him it was ‘going too far, boss’ and questioning if he was sober. This kind of abuse of power has no place anywhere, let alone in Congress, and Tony Gonzales should be ashamed and RESIGN IMMEDIATELY.”
Calls for Gonzales to resign grew on Monday after screenshots of text messages between Gonzales and Regina Santos-Aviles, a former aide who set herself on fire last year, were made public. The messages appear to show the congressman pressing Santos-Aviles to send sexual pictures late at night.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) called the text messages “disgusting and inexcusable” in a statement on Monday and demanded Gonzales leave office “immediately.”
“We have ZERO tolerance for those who abuse their power over others,” Mace said. “Zero. It does not matter what party you are in, what title you hold, or how powerful you think you are. You do not get a free pass.
“Tony Gonzales should resign immediately and be held fully accountable for what he’s done. She and her family deserved better. And Texans deserve a congressman who does not prey on women.”
Two House Republicans are not going so far as to ask Gonzales to resign but instead are encouraging him to withdraw from the 2026 race.
Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) said in a post that Gonzales should “drop out” of his 2026 reelection campaign because “America deserves better.”
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) said in a post that “the entire Texas delegation, as well as every single other Member of Congress, should be condemning a sitting Member of Congress asking for explicit photos of their staff.”
“As a woman, this is really disgusting to see,” Luna continued. “Not to …
Pressure mounts on Tony Gonzales to step down over sexually explicit messages to late staffer
Who's accountable for the results?
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) is facing calls to step down from office or suspend his 2026 reelection bid from at least four of his fellow House Republicans after evidence emerged that he sent explicit late-night text messages to a staffer who died by setting herself on fire.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) was the first to do so, telling the Washington Examiner that Gonzales should be ashamed of his conduct and needed to “resign immediately.”
“I’ve never been a fan of Open Borders Tony,” Boebert said in a text message. “Liars and cheaters aren’t my favorite either. The late night text messages released today seemingly show a perverted boss drunkenly coercing a vulnerable staffer into explicit conversations, pressing her for ‘sexy pics,’ asking about her favorite sexual positions, and even inquiring if she liked ‘anal’ all while she repeatedly pushed back, telling him it was ‘going too far, boss’ and questioning if he was sober. This kind of abuse of power has no place anywhere, let alone in Congress, and Tony Gonzales should be ashamed and RESIGN IMMEDIATELY.”
Calls for Gonzales to resign grew on Monday after screenshots of text messages between Gonzales and Regina Santos-Aviles, a former aide who set herself on fire last year, were made public. The messages appear to show the congressman pressing Santos-Aviles to send sexual pictures late at night.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) called the text messages “disgusting and inexcusable” in a statement on Monday and demanded Gonzales leave office “immediately.”
“We have ZERO tolerance for those who abuse their power over others,” Mace said. “Zero. It does not matter what party you are in, what title you hold, or how powerful you think you are. You do not get a free pass.
“Tony Gonzales should resign immediately and be held fully accountable for what he’s done. She and her family deserved better. And Texans deserve a congressman who does not prey on women.”
Two House Republicans are not going so far as to ask Gonzales to resign but instead are encouraging him to withdraw from the 2026 race.
Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) said in a post that Gonzales should “drop out” of his 2026 reelection campaign because “America deserves better.”
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) said in a post that “the entire Texas delegation, as well as every single other Member of Congress, should be condemning a sitting Member of Congress asking for explicit photos of their staff.”
“As a woman, this is really disgusting to see,” Luna continued. “Not to …
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