1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:06,239 Speaker 1: Hey, folks, it is Friday, February twentieth, and a Texas 2 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: congressman is facing increasing scrutiny and calls for his resignation 3 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: over an alleged affair with a staffer who later set 4 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: herself on fire. With that welcome to this episode of 5 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: Amy and TJ. Robes I said that accurately the details 6 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: here are incredible. But Representative Tony Gonzalez, a lot of 7 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:32,200 Speaker 1: people don't know that name, but he is in the 8 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: middle of it right. 9 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 2: Now well and anyone who is in his district. He 10 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 2: is actually currently running for his fourth term, so he's 11 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 2: a well known figure locally, but yes, now he is 12 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 2: becoming a nationally known name because of this growing scandal. 13 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,599 Speaker 2: There are allegations, yes, that he had an affair with 14 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 2: his staffer, and the accusation is now coming from a 15 00:00:56,080 --> 00:01:00,120 Speaker 2: former staffer, a former congressional aide who says, and has 16 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 2: shown a media outlet a screenshot of a text from 17 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 2: this staffer before she died by suicide, and yes, she 18 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: lit herself on fire, that is how she died. She 19 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 2: sent him a text confirming that she was having or 20 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 2: had had an affair with Representative Tony Gonzalez. And so 21 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,040 Speaker 2: it looks as though that is legit. They have gone 22 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 2: back and looked to see that this did come from 23 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 2: her account, and the scandal is now growing. 24 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 1: So a representative Gonzales again locked in a fight right now. 25 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 1: He does have the endorsement of President Trump, got that 26 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,120 Speaker 1: at the end of last year. But these accusations, at 27 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: least over an alleged affair, did start popping up at 28 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: the end of last year. Now he has denied the allegations, 29 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: he called them smears. We'll give you an update on 30 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: what he said about this particular latest. But the reason 31 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: now Robes. That's one thing for a tabloid to report 32 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: it and allegations of this and that, and it goes away. 33 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,559 Speaker 1: The reason now it has come back to the forefront, Robes, 34 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: is because, yes, that text message you describe, and a 35 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:09,239 Speaker 1: lot of people allow learning about the woman who sent 36 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: that text message. This is and we should be clear 37 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 1: here there is no one suggesting that this woman took 38 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: her own life because of this affair, right that direct 39 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:27,119 Speaker 1: connection has not been made. However, her husband, her widower, 40 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: has come out and given an interview as well with 41 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: the paper there in San Antonio, which is where his 42 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 1: district is, by the way, given an interview Inbes, he 43 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 1: is making at least pretty clear about his feelings of 44 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 1: how he believed the affair impacted his now deceased wife. 45 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 2: Yes, and in fact, there are reports that when he 46 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 2: found out about this affair, he actually sent texts to 47 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 2: members of the staff basically revealing that he knew, which 48 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 2: then ostracized her from a lot of folks within the company. 49 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:04,919 Speaker 2: So this was a very open secret according to her husband, 50 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 2: and according to the sex staffer, literally everyone in the 51 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 2: office knew what had happened. And at least this ex 52 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 2: staffer who showed this text message to the local paper, 53 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 2: said that she fell into a deep depression because of it. 54 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: And who we're talking about here is Regina and Santos Ovulas. 55 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: She's thirty five years old, but she worked as an 56 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: aid to Gonzales for a number of years, is it right, Yes, 57 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 1: several years. But she died September fourth, excuse me, twenty 58 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: fourth of last year. And yes, the medical examiner official 59 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 1: officially ruled it a suicide. Set herself on fire. I 60 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: believe was it her backyard, Yes, I believe it's where 61 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: it was. But she's married, has a son, I believe 62 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: these ages eight. But this happened in September of last year. Robes, 63 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 1: that is a disturbing story. You hear about that. The 64 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: reason now, Robes this is this. I don't know how 65 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: he continues to run this race, but Robes, it's what 66 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: you hear about affairs and people in Congress having affairs, 67 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: maybe even not all the time with staffers, which is 68 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: a violation of rules. But that's bad enough. This woman 69 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: killed herself in the most horrific of ways. The story 70 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: now has become something I don't know if he can 71 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: it's insurmountable. 72 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:27,159 Speaker 2: Correct, because look, I don't remember. Do you recall hearing 73 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 2: about this story in September. 74 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:29,239 Speaker 3: I don't. 75 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:33,040 Speaker 2: This obviously was a story locally, but it didn't rise 76 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 2: to the level. But I've since read, and I know 77 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 2: so many of you probably will after hearing this episode, 78 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 2: read about the events surrounding her death and just the 79 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 2: fact that she chose to light herself on fire. It 80 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 2: was her mother who found her. Her mother said she 81 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 2: was still alive, and she said her final words to 82 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 2: her was I want to live. So she was in 83 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 2: the belief that this was a horrific accident in the kitchen. 84 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 2: Something happened. She didn't mean to actually die by suicide 85 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 2: or take her own life, but the medical examiner officially 86 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:10,159 Speaker 2: ruled Avilis's death as a suicide as intentional. 87 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 3: So this is, yes, a horrific story. 88 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 2: And to be clear, Tony Gonzalez, we mentioned that Regina 89 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 2: was married with a child. Tony Gonzalez is a married 90 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 2: father of six, and he is a three term Republican 91 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 2: congressman there in the twenty third district of Texas, the 92 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:29,919 Speaker 2: San Antonio area to be specific. And so this was 93 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 2: a very well known is a very well known and 94 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,839 Speaker 2: previously well regarded politician in the area. 95 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 1: And so this has we've mentioned, don't know the motivations. 96 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:44,159 Speaker 1: He's attacked the motivations of this ex staffer who shared 97 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: that text message. But we talk about Regina who has 98 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 1: passed away. Regina and Santos Abolis, she died in September, 99 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 1: but this text message apparently was sent in April full 100 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: several months before. But the staffer came forward and this 101 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: is what the text mast it said, And it has 102 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 1: been reviewed by certainly the paper down there in San Antonio, 103 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: but the New York Times is taking a look at it. 104 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: In several other outlets and are reporting on it as 105 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: if it is legitimate. But it said, quote, I had 106 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: affair with our boss and I'm fine. That was it. 107 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 1: That was all that was shared. But it's a big 108 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:23,479 Speaker 1: deal when we are hearing the words of a now 109 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 1: dead woman who was seemingly confirming what had been reported 110 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: and what had been rumored for something. 111 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,040 Speaker 2: Yes, and I think part of the context was when 112 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 2: she said I had an affair with our boss and 113 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 2: I'm fine. I believe she also added you'll be fine too. 114 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,599 Speaker 2: The concern was that the two of them, when Gonzalez 115 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 2: would come, they were in the Uvaldi office. When Gonzalez 116 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 2: would come to that part of the state, they would 117 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 2: be the envoys who would take him around, set up 118 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 2: his meetings, be a part of it. All of a sudden, 119 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:54,479 Speaker 2: when Aviles's husband let folks know that he knew his 120 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 2: wife was having an affair with the congressman, all of 121 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 2: a sudden, those visits stopped, those duties discontinued, and so 122 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 2: it seemed as though she was reassuring the X, the 123 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 2: now former staffer, hey, we're going to be okay. Here's 124 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 2: what happened. Basically, I had an affair with him, and 125 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 2: so yeah, we just kind of have to lay low 126 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 2: for a while. That's what the context was that I 127 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 2: read about. That seemed to make a lot of sense 128 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 2: why she was almost reassuring him in that moment. 129 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: So the San Antonio Expressed News, this is the paper 130 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 1: that was first to report this. This was also the 131 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 1: paper that had endorsed him. So this paper, based on 132 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: what they have seen, have they have They immediately Robe said, naw, 133 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: we are no longer in the representative Tony Gonzale's business 134 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: and pulled and endorsement robes. He has an opponent down there. 135 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: This is to be expected. But calling on him to resign, 136 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 1: I don't know. Have you seen others? This is going 137 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 1: to be talked about plenty, but I haven't seen other 138 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 1: prominent names come out calling for his resignation yet. 139 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 3: No, we haven't. 140 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 2: Actually, we haven't heard anything as of this recording from 141 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 2: President Trump and specifically from Speaker Mike Johnson, who both 142 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 2: as you pointed out, President Trump in December publicly endorsed him. 143 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 2: Mike Johnson has done the same as well. So a 144 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 2: lot of folks are waiting to hear from one or 145 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 2: both of them about their reaction to this, because this 146 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 2: primary is March third, correct, so this is coming up, 147 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 2: and this is likely going to have a major impact 148 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 2: on that if he doesn't drop out of the race 149 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 2: ahead of time. But there's a Republican there in Texas 150 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 2: who has called on him to resign. So there have 151 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:33,719 Speaker 2: been a couple of folks who have and certainly that 152 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 2: paper removing or rescinding their endorsement has a big impact 153 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 2: on voters as well. 154 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 1: Big impact on voters could potentially have a big impact 155 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 1: on Congress. Right, these things now matter. This is the 156 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 1: state that was redrawing lines to get more congressional seats, 157 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: and this is one that should have been safe territory, 158 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: and now they're going to target it and look at 159 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,200 Speaker 1: this one as a possibility and opening all the That's 160 00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 1: not the most important thing, clearly, but that is on 161 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: the table. So with all that's what everybody is saying. 162 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 1: Between a text message and a newspaper and an ex staffer, 163 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:11,320 Speaker 1: what is the congressman himself saying, well, two different things. 164 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:14,839 Speaker 1: That was something he said right after his staffer died, 165 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: and then his tune certainly changed here recently. 166 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 2: Stay here, Welcome back everyone to this episode of Amy 167 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:34,679 Speaker 2: and TJ. Where we are talking about Congressman Tony Gonzalez. 168 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 2: He is running for re election primary race coming up 169 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 2: in just a few weeks actually, and news now not 170 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 2: only that he had an alleged affair with a staffer, 171 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 2: but that staffer died by suicide this past fall by 172 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 2: setting herself on fire. And now there is a text 173 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 2: message from her before her death to another former staffer 174 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 2: confirming that she had an affair with Gonzales. And so 175 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 2: there are calls for his resignation. There are certainly folks 176 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 2: who have spoken out and up against this action because clearly, 177 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 2: if you have an affair with the staffer, that is 178 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,680 Speaker 2: a clear violation of rules in Congress. And so yes, 179 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 2: we are now hearing directly from Tony Gonzalez himself, who 180 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 2: spoke on this in the fall when he called the 181 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 2: rumors of an affair simply rumors. 182 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 3: But he's gone further than that now. 183 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:32,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, but romees, has he's gone further but not far enough? 184 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:37,080 Speaker 1: Folks will say he has never said these you correct me, 185 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: We've been reading about this story all week. Has he 186 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:44,320 Speaker 1: ever said I did not and I was not engaged 187 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: in any relationship with this woman. 188 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,440 Speaker 2: He didn't use that language, but back in November he 189 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 2: said in politics, you better have thick skin when they 190 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 2: specifically asked him, my name is on the door, and 191 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 2: so people throwing rocks at me saying ugly, nasty things. 192 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 2: I totally get that, but the rumors are completely untruthful. 193 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 2: He didn't specify what the rumors were. He didn't say 194 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:07,319 Speaker 2: specifically about the affair. 195 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 1: Yes, rogues. We've read a million of these statements, so 196 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: I'm trying to give him space. But there is a 197 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 1: very easy thing to say that he's not saying. There's 198 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 1: a very easy thing to say simply, I was not involved. 199 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 1: We never had a relationship of any kind. This is hurtful, 200 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 1: This is awful to her memory, and it needs to 201 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: stop right now. All of you organizations that continue with 202 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: these rumors. You are doing nothing but hurting her and 203 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 1: her family. That's what people who didn't do anything say. 204 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:39,440 Speaker 3: He said the last part of what you just said. 205 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 2: He just didn't say the first part, which is the 206 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 2: most important part, because just this week, in response to 207 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 2: the paper printing this article with this email or excuse me, 208 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 2: with the text message, he went on to say that 209 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 2: miss Santos abylis was a kind soul who devoted her 210 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 2: life to making the community a better place. He talked 211 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 2: about provements that she participated in. But then he said, 212 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 2: it's shameful that Brandon Herrera, that is, the man who 213 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 2: is opposing him in the primary election, is using a 214 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 2: disgruntled former staffer to smear her memory and score political points, 215 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 2: conveniently pushing this out the very day early voting started. 216 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 2: I am not going to engage in these personal smears 217 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 2: and instead will remain focused on helping President Trump secure 218 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:28,319 Speaker 2: the border and improve the lives of all Texans. 219 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 1: That was worse than the first one. That is word 220 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: He's given an opportunity as directly, and he dances around it. 221 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 1: And again, how it's being interpreted. You can simp I'm 222 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: not going to engage. You can say no, it didn't happen. 223 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: It's easy. 224 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 3: And yet he didn't. 225 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 2: And then he went on X late yesterday and said, 226 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:53,080 Speaker 2: I will not be blackmailed. In all caps, disgusting to 227 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 2: see people profit politically and financially off a tragic death. 228 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:00,559 Speaker 2: The public should immediately have full access to the Uvaldi 229 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 2: police report. So he is responding to people claiming that 230 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 2: somehow he had something to do with her death. 231 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: So he's directing them to a police report. See I 232 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 1: didn't kill her. Are you serious? I didn't know. I 233 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 1: missed that. 234 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 3: This is on X last night. Yes, his statement, Yes, 235 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 3: I just read it. 236 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 2: I read it word for words again, seriously, I will 237 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 2: not be blackmailed. Disgusting to see people profit politically and 238 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 2: financially off a tragic death. The public should immediately. He 239 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 2: has it in all caps, have full access to the 240 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:40,320 Speaker 2: Uvaldi police report. I will keep fighting for Texas twenty three. 241 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 2: I guess that's yes, yes. 242 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:48,719 Speaker 1: Uh, okay, he's this is that thing, he has the opportunity, 243 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:51,959 Speaker 1: this is what happens or this story. He's making it 244 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:55,959 Speaker 1: worse by speaking and not saying anything. He's going around 245 00:13:56,040 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 1: and again as I'm not criticizing, I'm it. And if 246 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 1: he's trying to make it die down, trying to survive 247 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:09,319 Speaker 1: the primary and get into this later or but Robes, 248 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 1: if you didn't do it, you can stop this. 249 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 2: Yes, and you know what's actually sad and this is 250 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 2: not helpful at all for his new run for his 251 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 2: fourth term. But you have now the husband or the 252 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 2: late husband of this campaign staff for reacting to on Twitter. 253 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 2: What the congressman has posted, we have never blackmailed anyone. 254 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 2: What we've seen instead is a consistent pattern of evasion, refusal, 255 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 2: refusal to take accountability, and outright lies to protect your image. 256 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 2: You're a classic case of a two faced politician who 257 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 2: says whatever is convenient to save face. We chose to 258 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 2: hold back the full police report and bodycam footage for 259 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 2: one reason only. It shows my wife suffering severe burns 260 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 2: in horrific detail. I will not allow that graphic material 261 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 2: to become accessible to our eight year old son in 262 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 2: the future, when he is old enough to search for 263 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 2: or come across it. Nothing in that police report protects you. 264 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 2: That decision is about protecting our child's well being, not 265 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 2: concealing anything improper. Your actions have been disgraceful, and you 266 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 2: continue to mislead your constituents with falsehoods. You may avoid 267 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 2: responsibility here on earth, but one day you will answer 268 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 2: to a higher authority. Today, though, you still answer to 269 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 2: the people you represent, people who deserve the truth, not 270 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 2: more deception. 271 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: Wow, don't know who wrote that, but that's the end 272 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 1: of Gonzalez's political career. 273 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 3: Well, Regina's husband wrote that that is the end. 274 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 1: I don't know if a lawyer you're helped him with that, 275 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 1: he did that all on his own. Well done, sir. 276 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 1: That is going to be the end of it. That 277 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: does nothing. 278 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 3: How do you come back? 279 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: How are you going to attack the family of a 280 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: dead woman by saying, y'all aren't releasing this because you're 281 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: trying to You can't do that. He is making a 282 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 1: lot of missteps here, Congressman Gonzalez. Don't know him from 283 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 1: a man on the moon. How good of a dad, 284 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 1: how good of a husband, and what he's done for 285 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: his community in that district. But right now, this is 286 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 1: not going to go away. No, that statement right there 287 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: brings it home. And now I'm a little pissed at 288 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 1: the congressman for suggesting something with this family, like the 289 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: family has to come out and defend a decision not 290 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 1: to hurt my eight year old son. Later, I have 291 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: to defend myself publicly for being a father trying to 292 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: protect him because you are accusing That is a tough one. 293 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 1: Like I'm boiling. I didn't see that statement ahead of time. 294 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 3: That's a tough one. 295 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 2: Who robes that is, yes, when the husband of the 296 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 2: late staffer who you are accused of having an affair 297 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 2: with write something like that on X for all of 298 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 2: your constituents to see, for all the people who you 299 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 2: want to vote for you to see that. I just 300 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 2: don't see, to your point, how he survives this and 301 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 2: does he really want to go through an election to 302 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 2: see what the voters say, or does he want to 303 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 2: step down ahead of time and do the right thing? 304 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 3: Sweetheart? 305 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: He is denying kind of sort of that he had 306 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 1: this relationship. That's fine. He is not being accused of 307 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: any criminal wrongdoing. 308 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 3: No he is. 309 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 1: And also, we don't want to make that leap. And 310 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 1: nobody else either is saying this woman had an affair 311 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 1: with this congressman and that's why she killed herself. We 312 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:25,120 Speaker 1: need to make sure that it's not being said at 313 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: all by anyone anywhere, including the husband who also those 314 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,440 Speaker 1: says that it impacted her, yes, and that it put 315 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: her into a deep depression. He can make that connection 316 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: if he wants to. But Robes, it's that statement there 317 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 1: is devastating. Didn't I didn't put it in the context. 318 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:42,359 Speaker 1: He gave it to me for the congressman to say, 319 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:45,880 Speaker 1: release this stuff immediately to clear me. 320 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:53,240 Speaker 2: After Okay, he made a bad situation worse. He made 321 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 2: a bad situation worse. So we appreciate you, know, we 322 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,680 Speaker 2: actually encourage you please check this out. This is maybe 323 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 2: something that wasn't on your radar because it did seem 324 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 2: initially to be a local story, but this has certainly 325 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 2: blown up and has national implications and significance, so it 326 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:11,880 Speaker 2: would be if you're interested in this. There's a lot 327 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 2: to look at online. So with that, everyone, thank you 328 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:17,400 Speaker 2: so much for listening to us. I'm Ami Roboch alongside TJ. 329 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 3: Holmes. We will talk to you soon.