A former staffer for the U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales claims the congressman had an affair with his aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide on September 14, 2025, after setting herself on fire. Authorities found no evidence of foul play, and the Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled her death a suicide by self-immolation.
Santos-Aviles, 35, served as Gonzales’ regional district director in Uvalde. The former staffer, who remained anonymous due to fears of retaliation, said Santos-Aviles told him about the affair in 2024. According to San Antonio Express News, he shared a text message from her, dated April 27, 2025, where she wrote, “I had (sic) affair with our boss and I’m fine. You will be fine,” sent from a phone number verified to belong to her.
A lawyer for Santos-Aviles’ husband, Adrian Aviles, confirmed the affair “was not a secret among the staff,” calling it “common knowledge.” However, the lawyer stressed he does not believe the relationship played a role in her death, and that Adrian Aviles’ primary concern is how public discussion might affect their 8-year-old son, saying, “To him, this is personal. To everybody else, it’s political.”
Gonzales denied the rumors but his aide’s final months tell a different story
For months, Gonzales avoided questions about his relationship with Santos-Aviles. He briefly addressed the rumors in November at the Texas Tribune Festival, saying, “People throwing rocks at me, saying I’m doing nasty things, I totally get that. But the rumors are completely untruthful.” This comes at a time when several Republican lawmakers have been making headlines for controversial conduct, much like a GOP congressman’s inflammatory remarks about Muslims that rattled his own party.
The former staffer said Gonzales and Santos-Aviles stayed together on two separate occasions in May 2024 at a rental cabin near Uvalde. Two weeks later, Santos-Aviles called the staffer, upset, saying her husband had found text messages about the relationship. Adrian Aviles later texted a group of Gonzales’ legislative staffers to expose the affair.
After that, operations in Gonzales’ Uvalde office changed significantly, with meetings canceled and Santos-Aviles sidelined from her previous duties. The former staffer said, “She went from the number one employee in the office to nothing.” She began taking antidepressants in the summer of 2025, and he claimed police were called to her home after a suicide attempt in August 2025, though this has not been independently confirmed.
The former staffer resigned last month and now works for two local Democratic campaigns, confirming he has not been paid by any of Gonzales’ primary opponents. The situation has drawn wider attention to unusual political conduct, including Rep. Massie’s cryptic post about not being suicidal that raised serious public concern.
Gonzales, a Republican representing Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, is seeking reelection and has been endorsed by President Donald Trump. Primary challenger Brandon Herrera responded to Trump confidante Laura Loomer’s post foreshadowing a “career ending” report, writing, “I am glad the truth is finally coming to light.”
Santos-Aviles’ funeral was held September 25 in Uvalde. Adrian Aviles delivered a eulogy describing her as his soulmate and “the love of my life.” The couple had been together for 21 years and married for seven, though separated for a few months at the time of her death while co-parenting their son.
Published: Feb 18, 2026 01:15 pm