House Speaker Mike Johnson has officially called on scandal-ridden Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales to drop his re-election bid after the embattled congressman finally admitted to having an extramarital affair with a staffer who later tragically died by suicide.
The shocking developments have rocked the Republican Party as Gonzales dodged allegations for weeks before confessing to the affair with Regina Santos-Aviles in a Wednesday interview. Santos-Aviles reportedly took her own life by setting herself on fire in a devastating tragedy that has left many questioning Gonzales' fitness to serve.
Johnson stopped short of demanding Gonzales resign immediately, instead focusing his official statement on ending the congressman's re-election campaign. According to CNN's Manu Raju, "Speaker Johnson stops short of calling on Tony Gonzales to resign after the Texas Republican admitted to violating House rules and having an affair with a staffer. Johnson referred us to his statement which called on him to drop his reelection bid (but no mention of resignation)."
But the calls for Gonzales to step down entirely are growing louder across conservative circles. Real Texas Politics reports that multiple Republican members of Congress have called for his resignation or endorsed his primary challenger Brandon Herrera, including heavyweights like Steve Scalise and Thomas Massie.
"Republican members of Congress who have called on Tony Gonzales to resign... Called for Resignation/Retirement: Marlin Stutzman (IN-3), Thomas Massie (KY-4), Steve Scalise (LA-1), Mike Johnson (LA-4), Lisa McClain (MI-9)," the account documented.
Americans are rightfully outraged by Gonzales' conduct and his apparent belief that he can simply move forward without consequences. One social media user captured the sentiment perfectly: "Dickhead GOP Congressman Tony Gonzales says God has forgiven him for having an extramarital affair with a staffer, who then died by suicide. How does he know this??"
The Trump-Vance administration has made cleaning up Washington a top priority, and Republicans like Gonzales who bring scandal and shame to the party have no place in the America First movement. With a strong primary challenger in Brandon Herrera already gaining endorsements, Texas patriots have a clear choice to make.
Will Speaker Johnson grow a backbone and demand Gonzales resign immediately, or will he continue to enable this embarrassment to the Republican Party?