Tony Gonzales Stands Firm Amid Calls for Resignation
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) firmly stated he will not resign from Congress, despite the fallout from an alleged affair with a staff member who tragically died by suicide last year.
“I am not going to resign. I work every day for the people of Texas,” Gonzales asserted during an exchange with a reporter at the Capitol on Tuesday.
Calls for his resignation have intensified among several Republican colleagues following the release of late-night text messages that reportedly show Gonzales soliciting “a sexy pic” from a younger staffer in 2024.
The staffer’s husband claims that the two engaged in an affair, which led to significant personal turmoil. After her husband discovered the relationship, she fell into a deep depression, resulting in estrangement and professional setbacks. In September, she set herself on fire, succumbing to her injuries shortly thereafter.
While Gonzales has denied having an affair, he did not dispute the authenticity of the text messages when questioned on Tuesday. “What you’ve seen is not all the facts,” he remarked, hinting at undisclosed details.
Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) have publicly urged Gonzales to resign immediately, while others within the party suggest he should halt his reelection campaign. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) characterized the situation as serious, indicating that Gonzales owes the public a thorough explanation.
Reports indicate that Gonzales has been referred to the Office of Congressional Ethics for investigation, which may lead to further scrutiny by the House Ethics Committee. This could result in potential disciplinary actions, including censure or expulsion.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), who has also called for Gonzales to withdraw from his campaign, refrained from commenting on whether Gonzales had provided an adequate explanation. “I’m not gonna litigate this in the public square,” Roy stated. “Let’s let due process play out here a little bit, and let the ethics committee do its job.”
Interestingly, Roy and other far-right House Republicans have already endorsed Gonzales’ primary opponent, Brandon Herrera, a right-wing gun influencer, as the Texas primary election approaches next week.
