Months earlier than demise by suicide, aide texted colleague she had an affair along with her boss, Rep. Tony Gonzales
Regina Santos-Aviles, an aide to Rep. Tony Gonzales, wrote a textual content message to a colleague that she had an affair with the Republican congressman. Months later, Santos-Aviles, 35, died after allegedly setting herself on hearth.
“I had an affair with our boss and I’m fine,” Santos-Aviles stated within the textual content change, which was seen by CBS News.
The information was first reported by the San Antonio Express-News.
Santos-Aviles died on Sept. 14, 2025, after she was discovered critically burned the night time earlier than close to her house in Uvalde, in line with the Uvalde Police Department. The Bexar County Medical Examiner dominated the demise a suicide in November, in line with CBS San Antonio affiliate KENS.
In a press release on Wednesday, Gonzales wouldn’t touch upon the allegations, saying he wouldn’t “engage in these personal smears and instead remain focused on helping President Trump secure the border and improve the lives of all Texans.”
In a November look on a panel, the 45-year-old congressman denied the affair, saying “the rumors are completely untruthful.” Gonzales is a married father of six, and Santos-Aviles was additionally married and had a son.
Gonzales known as Santos-Aviles a “kind soul who devoted her life to making the community a better place. Her efforts led to improvements in school safety, healthcare, and rural water like never before.” He accused one among his main opponents, Brandon Herrera, of “using a disgruntled former staffer to smear her memory and score political points.”
Gonzales’ workplace additionally alleged that the ex-staffer who reported the texts has moved to Los Angeles to work for Democratic campaigns. The ex-staffer denied to the Express-News that he was paid by any of Gonzales’ main opponents.
Gonzales, who represents Uvalde and elements of San Antonio and the Texas-Mexico border, is at present working for his fourth time period. It’s thought of a protected Republican seat, and Gonzales received the final election with a 24–level margin, though the district boundaries have been modified since then. The main was a lot nearer — Herrera misplaced to Gonzales by simply 400 votes. He’s difficult Gonzales once more this yr and on Tuesday known as on Gonzales to exit the race. Early voting began Tuesday within the March 3 main.
“This is completely unacceptable behavior for anyone, let along a sitting member of Congress,” Herrera posted on social media. “Tony must step down.”
Republican state Rep. Wes Vidrell, who represents a part of Texas’ twenty third congressional district additionally known as on Gonzales to resign amid the rising scandal.
“If this is true, and it appears credible, Tony should step down,” Vidrell stated in a press release. “The family deserves to heal and get past this terrible tragedy. That will be impossible to do if they have to see the person who did it show no remorse for the situation and get re-elected to represent them in Congress.”
Another former staffer informed the Express-News concerning the alleged affair between Santos-Aviles and Gonzales. The former staffer informed the newspaper that she spiraled into melancholy after her husband found the alleged affair and Gonzales minimize her off.
The Express-News on Tuesday night time pulled its endorsement of Gonzales within the race, and stated it could not make a advice within the race.
