Republicans Call on Tony Gonzales to Resign After Staffer's Death

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) is facing mounting pressure to drop out of his reelection bid for Texas’s 23^rd congressional district, but despite the calls, he appears determined to win, as projections indicate that he will lose.

Last year, reports surfaced that a staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, passed away after catching on fire in her backyard. Her death left many questions unanswered, but alleged leaks between Santos-Aviles and Rep. Gonzales suggest that the Republican lawmaker was pressuring Santos-Aviles to share explicit photos and to engage in an affair.

With the release of the texts, criticism from both Republicans and Democrats have poured in, calling on Rep. Gonzales to resign, and calling on President Donald Trump to rescind his endorsement of the Texas Republican.

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) was the first Republican to take to social media, simply writing that the incumbent lawmaker should “RESIGN!”

She later called on the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) to “direct their spending commitments to Brandon Herrera,” who’s known as the “AK Guy” and who’s running against Rep. Gonzales in the Republican primary. Rep. Boebert has endorsed Herrera in the race.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) also weighed in on social media, writing, “The entire Texas delegation, as well as every single member of Congress, should be condemning a sitting Member of Congress asking for explicit photos of their staff.”

Calling it “disgusting,” the Florida Republican argued that Rep. Gonzales “brings dishonor on the House of Representatives.”

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has also shared her thoughts on the growing controversy, calling the allegations against Rep. Gonzales “deeply disturbing.”

“Congressional staff serve their country,” she wrote, adding, “They should never have to endure predatory behavior from the people they work for.”

In an update, Rep. Mace shared that a congressional effort has “filed a resolution directing the Ethics Committee to preserve and publicly release records and reports on all of their investigations into Members of Congress for sexual harassment and unwelcome sexual advances,” calling the situation with Rep. Gonzales “the tip of the iceberg.”

Rep. Gonzales has not responded to the calls for his resignation, and President Trump has not addressed whether he will rescind his endorsement.

In a social media post, Rep. Gonzales did confirm that he will attend the State of the Union address.