Republican appalls internet with defense of House colleague accused of sex misconduct

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) is facing mounting calls from within his own party to resign as details trickle out about his alleged sexual misconduct against a House staffer who died in a gruesome suicide last year. But one of his Texas colleagues is pushing back on that whole effort: Rep. Troy Nehls.

Gonzales, who represents a sprawling district stretching from the San Antonio suburbs to the border near El Paso, allegedly carried on an extramarital affair with the staffer, Uvalde regional director Regina Santos-Aviles, and asked her over text to send him "sexy pics," which caused her to express discomfort.

So far, Gonzales has resisted calls to resign — and Nehls appears to agree.

"We can't afford him to resign," said Nehls, a former Houston-area sheriff, in conversation with reporters on Tuesday. "Should he pull out of the race? Well, that's up to Tony, but the voters are halfway through this. Let's just see if he wins his primary, but it's just not a good look."

Nehls' comments provoked a swift backlash from commenters on social media.

"Troy Nehls says the quiet part out loud. 'We can’t afford him to resign.' If @RepTonyGonzales resigns, Republicans will be down to 217 Rs in the House," wrote Jeremy Wallace of the Houston Chronicle.

"'It's not a good look' — Rep Nehls says of Rep Gonzales' extramarital affair while standing next to Attorney General Paxton," wrote Quorum Report's Scott Braddock, referencing Paxton's own allegations of marital infidelity.

"I think I’m starting to understand why we have so many sexual predators in government," wrote Texas state representative candidate Sara McGee. "It’s because they wouldn’t be able to get a job anywhere else."