Republican lawmakers are condemning Rep. Tony Gonzales after text messages made public Monday revealed that the Texas lawmaker requested explicit pictures from a former aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, who died last year after allegedly setting herself on fire.
The woman’s widower, Adrian Aviles, accused Gonzales of having an affair with a reluctant Santos-Aviles — who said, “this is going too far boss” to the congressman’s request for “a sexy pic.”
Following the salacious disclosures, at least four of Gonzales’ Republican colleagues have called for his resignation.
“The allegations against Congressman Tony Gonzales are deeply disturbing: a sitting Member of Congress accused of soliciting explicit photos from a staffer and subjecting her to graphic sexual texts,” Rep. Nancy Mace posted on X Monday, adding, “Congressman Gonzales must address these allegations and resign.”
“@RepTonyGonzales, RESIGN!” Rep. Lauren Boebert posted on X Monday.
NOTUS has not independently verified the authenticity of the text messages, which were first provided to the New York Post by Aviles.
“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,” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna posted on X, expressing frustration over the scandal and saidit brought “dishonor on the House of Representatives.”
“America deserves better. Tony should drop out of the race,” Texas Rep. Brandon Gill also posted on X.
Gonzales represents Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, is married, has six children and has been at the center of a major controversy since 2025, when The Daily Mail reported that the lawmaker and Santos-Aviles had carried out an extramarital relationship.
Last Thursday, Aviles told the New York Post that Gonzales sought sexually suggestive pictures from his wife and that he was aware of Gonzales and his late wife’s exchanges.
Gonzales’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, though he has denied the allegations publicly.
“The rumors are completely untruthful,” Gonzales said at the Texas Tribune Festival in November.
He added Sunday that he planned to stay in the race.
“During my six years in Congress not a single formal complaint has been levied against my office,” Gonzales wrote on X. “Now days away from an election, coordinated political attacks reign in. IT WONT WORK.”
The Texas representative has been the subject of a probe since last year by the Office of Congressional Conduct, an independent agency in charge of reviewing misconduct allegations against members.
Despite the scrutiny, not all of Gonzales’ Republican colleagues have called for him to resign. Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday stood behind the Texas representative, who he endorsed in 2025 before the scandal went public.
“I endorsed Tony before all these allegations came out, they’re obviously very serious, and I’ve spoken with him and told him he’s got to address that in an appropriate way with his constituents,” Johnson told reporters. “It’s too early for anybody to prejudge any of that, but we’ll see how it develops.”
His Republican primary challenger, a firearms influencer who received the endorsement of the House Freedom Caucus Fund on Monday, echoed calls for Gonzales’ resignation.
“You are guilty and should resign,” Brandon Herrera wrote on X.
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