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By Kate Plummer
Senior US News Reporter
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Republican Representative Tony Gonzales has been hit with new allegations that he sent sexual messages to a campaign staffer in 2020.
According to messages published by the San Antonio Express-News, Gonzales, who has represented Texas' 23rd congressional district since 2021, sent a series of messages to his unnamed aide asking for nude photos while he was running for Congress.
Newsweek has not verified these messages and contacted representatives for Gonzales by email outside of normal business hours for comment.
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The Context
The fresh claims came after Gonzales faced allegations he had a romantic relationship with a staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, in 2024, who later died by suicide. The San Antonio Express-News published text messages in February which appeared to confirm this relationship and while he had previously denied it, in March, Gonzales admitted to the affair and dropped his reelection bid.
Under the House Code of Official Conduct, romantic relationships between members of Congress and their staff are prohibited, but these rules do not apply to campaign staff. Last month, the House Ethics Committee said it had opened an investigation into whether he had engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee in his office, and whether he discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges.
There is no suggestion that Santos-Aviles' suicide was connected to the affair. In an interview with conservative talk show host Joe Pagliarulo, Gonzales said he had not spoken to Santos-Aviles since June 2024 and had "absolutely nothing" to do with her death.
What To Know
In one text, alleged to have been sent in June 2020, Gonzales asked his staffer, who served as a political director on his campaign: "What kind of panties do you wear."
In another reported text, he asked her to "squeeze my balls."
"What do you like in the bedroom? What's off limits?" another text read.
"If I come over though your panties are coming off, though" said another.
In other texts, he asked the staffer for nude photos and said "I know what I want and won't stop until I get it," despite the staffer replying "nope" to his requests.
The staffer, who shared the texts with the San Antonio Express-News told the publication that their relationship did not become physical. Gonzales has not publicly commented on the alleged texts.
What People Are Saying
In a March interview with conservative talk show host Joe Pagliarulo: "I made a mistake and I had a lapse in judgment and there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions.
"Since then, I've reconciled with my wife Angel. I've asked God to forgive me which he has and my faith is as strong as ever."
**The former staffer told the San Antonio Express-News: “**He obviously pursued, pursued, pursued her like he did with me. I never took him serious…It wasn't until this poor girl died that I thought, ‘No, this guy is pure evil.’”
What Happens Next
Gonzales will serve out the remainder of his term through January.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "988" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
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