Quick Read
- Rep. Tony Gonzales is accused of repeatedly asking a campaign staffer for nude photos in 2020.
- The allegations are based on explicit text messages reportedly verified from Gonzales’ cellphone.
- This follows Gonzales’ admission of a past affair with another staffer who later died by suicide, leading to an ethics probe.
WASHINGTON (Azat TV) – U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales is facing new allegations that he repeatedly solicited nude photos from a former campaign staffer in 2020, according to a report by The San Antonio Express-News. The accusations surface months after Gonzales admitted to a prior affair with another staffer, who later died by suicide. The explicit text messages, reportedly sent during a 2020 GOP primary runoff, have not been independently verified by multiple outlets, though The New York Times reported the Express-News verified they were sent from Gonzales’ cellphone number.
Allegations of Persistent Pursuit of Nude Photos
The San Antonio Express-News detailed exchanges where Representative Gonzales allegedly pursued a campaign staffer for sexually explicit images. According to the report, the conversation began casually, with Gonzales reportedly calling the staffer a “smart girl” and advising her not to “settle.” The tone allegedly shifted when Gonzales asked about her bedtime routine and then inquired, “What kind of panties do you wear?” The report claims Gonzales then directly asked for nude photos and expressed sexual desires. Despite the staffer reportedly replying “Nope” to multiple requests, Gonzales allegedly responded, “47 nos is about my limit,” indicating persistent pursuit over a three-day period in June 2020.
Staffer’s Account and Verification Efforts
The staffer, who has not been publicly named, reportedly told the Express-News that Gonzales asked for nude photos more than a dozen times over three days and continued to be persistent despite her repeated refusals. She confirmed to NBC News that she came forward because she believes the congressman should be held accountable for his behavior, stating, “This behavior needs to stop.” The Express-News reported that campaign finance filings confirmed the woman had worked on Gonzales’ campaign. While the staffer stated that their relationship never became physical, meeting only twice to discuss work, the texts suggest a pattern of alleged sexual harassment. CNN and PEOPLE have reached out to Gonzales’ office for comment but had not received a response at the time of reporting.
Context of Prior Revelations and Ethics Probe
These new allegations emerge in the wake of Gonzales’ public admission in 2024 of an affair with Regina Santos-Aviles, a former employee in his district office. Santos-Aviles later died by suicide. Gonzales described the affair as a “lapse in judgment.” The timing of these revelations has intensified scrutiny on the Texas Republican, who withdrew from his reelection bid amid the fallout from the initial affair allegations and an ongoing congressional ethics investigation into his conduct. Republican leaders had previously called for Gonzales to address the allegations directly and encouraged him to cooperate with the investigation. Despite pressure, Gonzales has not resigned his seat, a decision that has significant implications for the House’s narrow Republican majority.
Previous Statements and Campaign Finance
The San Antonio Express-News indicated that campaign finance records showed the woman who shared the texts had indeed worked on Gonzales’ campaign. The report also noted that Gonzales had spoken about a cardiac arrest he suffered the previous year, suggesting it had changed his perspective on personal feelings and wants. He reportedly texted, “I used to be able to bury my personal feelings better. Sacrifice my wants/needs for what needs to be done. Things changed when I died last year.” This statement was reportedly made in the context of his pursuit of the staffer. Despite the gravity of the allegations and the ongoing ethics probe, Gonzales has maintained his position in Congress, impacting the legislative body’s tight vote margins.
The emergence of these new allegations, detailing alleged persistent solicitation of explicit photos from a campaign staffer in 2020, shortly after the admission of a separate affair with an employee who later died by suicide, underscores a pattern of conduct that has led to a congressional ethics investigation and has significantly impacted Representative Gonzales’ political standing and the dynamics within the House of Representatives.