Congressman CAUGHT — Aide Burns Herself Alive

Person reading tablet with headline Scandal Unfolds.

A Texas congressman’s alleged affair with a now-deceased aide—confessed in her own text messages—has exploded into a scandal threatening his reelection just weeks before voters head to the polls in a razor-thin primary race.

Story Snapshot

Text messages reveal Regina Santos-Aviles admitted affair with Rep. Tony Gonzales months before her September 2025 suicide by self-immolation
San Antonio Express-News withdrew endorsement of Gonzales, citing “disturbing lack of character” after investigation uncovered staff accounts of workplace isolation
Primary challenger Brandon Herrera and fellow Republicans demand Gonzales step down as early voting begins in contentious March 3 primary
Gonzales denies allegations despite documented texts, blames political opponents for “smears” while Trump endorsement hangs in balance

Text Messages Surface Amid Heated Primary Battle

Regina Ann “Regi” Santos-Aviles sent a revealing text message to a colleague on April 28, 2025, admitting she had an affair with “our boss,” U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales. The San Antonio Express-News obtained and verified the text messages, which surfaced just as Gonzales faces a tough Republican primary challenge from gun rights activist Brandon Herrera. Santos-Aviles, who served as regional director in Gonzales’ Uvalde office, died by suicide in September 2025 after setting herself on fire at her home. The Bexar County Medical Examiner confirmed the death as suicide in November 2025, with no foul play found by investigating authorities.

Power Imbalance and Professional Isolation Preceded Tragedy

Multiple former staffers confirmed the affair was common knowledge within Gonzales’ office, with the relationship creating an inherently unequal power dynamic between the married congressman and his subordinate. After the affair became known among staff in May 2024, Santos-Aviles found herself professionally frozen out—excluded from Uvalde community visits and facing canceled meetings despite her critical role serving constituents in the community still healing from the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting. Former colleagues report she began taking antidepressants during summer 2025 as her professional isolation deepened. Her husband Adrian Aviles discovered the text messages and notified staff members, while attorney Bobby Barrera confirmed the affair was widely known but maintains it was unrelated to her subsequent mental health decline.

Congressman Deflects as Political Pressure Mounts

Gonzales, a 45-year-old married father of six, has repeatedly denied the affair allegations despite the documented text evidence. At the November 2024 Texas Tribune Festival, he dismissed earlier rumors as “completely untruthful.” Following the February 2026 Express-News investigation, Gonzales issued a statement refusing to “engage in personal smears,” instead focusing on President Trump’s agenda and accusing Herrera of politicizing Santos-Aviles’ death. His office attempted to discredit the former staffer who shared the texts by claiming she now works for Democratic campaigns—an assertion the staffer denies. This defense strategy has failed to quell growing calls for accountability from within his own party.

Republicans Break Ranks Demanding Resignation

The scandal has fractured Republican support for Gonzales in a district Trump won comfortably but where Gonzales barely survived his 2024 primary against Herrera by just 400 votes. Brandon Herrera immediately called for Gonzales to step down, stating “Tony must step down” in February 2026. State Representative Wes Virdell joined the chorus, saying “If true… Tony should step down,” noting the Santos-Aviles family’s inability to heal amid the controversy. The San Antonio Express-News editorial board withdrew its endorsement, citing an “act of deception” involving marriage vows and workplace power imbalances that demonstrated a “disturbing lack of character.” The timing could not be worse for Gonzales—early voting began in February 2026 for the March 3 primary, with Trump’s December 2025 endorsement now looking like a potential liability rather than the lifeline it appeared.

Broader Concerns About Congressional Ethics and Accountability

This case highlights troubling patterns of workplace conduct that should concern anyone who values accountability in government. The inherent power imbalance between a congressman and his staff member creates an environment where abuse can flourish unchecked, with subordinates facing career-ending retaliation for relationships their superiors initiated. Former staffers raised mental health concerns about Santos-Aviles with district director Jalen Falcon in June 2025, yet the situation deteriorated until her tragic death three months later. Gonzales’ refusal to directly address the documented evidence—instead attacking the credibility of witnesses and deflecting to campaign talking points—demonstrates exactly the kind of arrogance and lack of transparency that frustrates voters who expect their representatives to embody the values they claim to champion.