U.S. Congress and Ethics

Text messages obtained by multiple outlets allegedly show Rep. Tony Gonzales sought explicit sexual messages from former aide Regina Santos‑Aviles, and a lawyer for her husband has released additional texts as the Office of Congressional Conduct opens an inquiry that may be referred to the House Ethics Committee. The revelations have prompted several House Republicans — including Lauren Boebert, Anna Paulina Luna, Brandon Gill and Nancy Mace — to call on Gonzales to resign or end his reelection bid, while Speaker Mike Johnson called the allegations “very serious” but urged investigations to proceed; Trump, the NRCC and other GOP backers have so far not withdrawn support, and the House Freedom Caucus’ campaign arm has endorsed Gonzales’s primary challenger.