Last Updated on March 1, 2022
Scandal-plagued U.S. Rep. Van Taylor (R-TX) heads into Tuesday’s vote count short at least one key endorsement. On Sunday night, Texas Values Action, a major faith and freedom political advocacy nonprofit in the state, scrubbed Taylor from its list of endorsements. The embattled Congressman still maintains the endorsement of Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), however.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Cruz appears to be standing behind Taylor. The senator’s office did not respond to National File’s request for comment and no statement has been issued that would indicate a change in direction. Cruz has been one of Taylor’s most high-profile endorsements and one the congressman has often touted.
Taylor has been accused of offering hush money to former “ISIS bride” Tania Joya in order to cover up an extramarital affair. Joya was previously married to American-born ISIS member John Georgelas, who was killed in a 2017 air strike after Tania and the couple’s children fled Syria.
According to Joya, she and Taylor engaged in a raunchy extramarital affair from October 2020 through June 2021. In one extremely graphic text allegedly sent by Taylor, the congressman requested a “long slow rim job.”
Joya alleges that Taylor paid her $5,000 to keep quiet, with the alleged payment taking place during Taylor’s time in the U.S. House of Representatives. She later provided Breitbart News with a bank statement that demonstrates the alleged payment, according to Joya. Additionally, Joya claims that Taylor offered to buy her house. She also claims Taylor offered an additional offer of $15,000 to help launch a fitness studio.
Taylor is currently being primaried by three opponents in Texas’s third congressional district. If he fails to gain more than 50% of the vote, he could be forced into a runoff.
