Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R-Texas) has confirmed he plans to continue serving in Congress, despite increasing pressure from some House Republicans regarding accusations of an affair with a former staffer. This staffer was involved in a fire incident at his Uvalde home in September 2025—an event he previously denied any wrongdoing in.
Initially, police did not suspect foul play, and the family of the staffer maintained she did not intentionally ignite the fire.
During a press conference, Gonzalez stated, “I have no intention of resigning.” These comments came as House Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned plans to meet with lawmakers that day. When questioned about Gonzalez’s re-election prospects amid these allegations, Johnson noted, “I haven’t met with him yet.”
“I work for the people of Texas every day,” Gonzalez added. “There will be a chance for all the facts to come out. What you’ve seen isn’t the full story.”
Recently, new text messages between Gonzalez and the staffer’s husband were made public, intensifying calls from House Republican women for his resignation. These messages reveal concerns about a power imbalance, with Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) commenting that they exhibit a “perverted boss drunkenly coercing a vulnerable employee into explicit conversations, asking for ‘sexy photos’ and discussing their favorite sexual positions.”
Boebert emphatically argued that this kind of behavior has no place in Congress, stating Gonzalez should resign “in shame.” Similarly, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna expressed her disgust with the situation on social media and stressed the importance of condemning such actions within Congress.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) labeled the alleged texts as “disgusting and intolerable,” asserting that Congress should apply “zero tolerance” towards any abuses of power.
On Tuesday, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) joined the chorus demanding Gonzalez’s resignation. He questioned the silence of other Republicans and criticized former President Trump’s endorsement of Gonzalez, calling for it to be retracted. Mace also proposed a resolution aimed at ensuring the Ethics Committee preserves and releases records related to sexual harassment investigations involving Congress members, suggesting that Gonzalez’s case may just be a small part of a larger issue.
House Speaker Johnson acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but refrained from calling for Gonzalez’s resignation. He expressed prior support for Gonzalez, stating that the accusations need to be addressed properly with the public. Johnson pointed out that if mere accusations were enough to determine someone’s place in Congress, many members would likely face similar consequences.
Despite the ongoing turmoil, Johnson and former President Trump have maintained their support for Gonzalez.
