Newly-elected Congressman Tony Gonzales, Congressman for Texas’s District 23, barricaded House of Representative doors Wednesday afternoon, preparing to battle rioters, according to news reports.
The San Antonio Express News reported that,
Rep. Pat Fallon, a Republican in a district north of Dallas, told his Facebook followers that Capitol police entered the House chamber during a debate. The politicians were first told to stay in their seats, then an evacuation began.
The pro-Trump mob soon reached the doors of the chamber. Fallon, along with Rep. Tony Gonzales and other Texas Republicans, “augmented the Police and stood our ground.” The group was “literally on the front lines,” he recalled.
According to reports, Gonzales and the team broke furniture to use as weapons if rioters broke through. Law enforcement eventually turned them back before they were in the Chambers.
Later, Gonzales tweeted the following: “ I was proud to join @RonnyJacksonTX (Congressman for Texas’s 13th Congressional District) @FallonforTexas, (Congressman for Texas’s 4th
Congressional District) @SheriffTNehls (Congressman from Texas’s 22nd Congressional District) and the incredible Capitol Police to defend the People’s House today. This is a country where the rule of law comes first. We will never bow to the mob.”
Congressman Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader, recognized Gonzales’ efforts with the following; We saw the worst of America this afternoon, yet in the midst of violence and fear we also saw the best of America – it starts with our law enforcement, the Capitol Police, the National Guard, the F.B.I, the Secret Service who face the most difficult challenges but did their duty with confidence and strength. Many of them are injured right now and it also extends to this chamber where both Democrats and Republicans showed courage, calm, and resolve. I’d like to recognize the members now who helped to hold the line, Markwayne Mullen, Tony Gonzales, Jason Crow, Pat Fallon, and Troy Nehls, working with Capitol Police they ensured the floor of this chamber was never breached. These are the heroes among us. Thank you for this sign of courage.
Gonzales is a U.S. Navy retired master chief petty officer. As a career Cryptologist, he has been stationed at the Navy Information Operations Detachment Kaneohe Bay, HI, U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida, USS MICHAEL MURPHY in Pearl Harbor, HI, Center for Information Warfare Training Center in 
Pensacola, Florida, Office of Legislative Affairs in Washington, D.C., and Navy Information Operations Command in San Antonio, Texas.
He has deployed multiple times in support of combat operations including Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and in support of regional security operations throughout Asia.
Congressman Gonzales will open his Del Rio office here Jan. 14 located at 712 E. Gibbs St.
