Representative Tony Gonzales, a Republican congressman from Texas, made a public statement confirming his involvement in an extramarital affair with a former staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, who tragically died by suicide in September 2025. This revelation came during an appearance on "The Joe Pags Show," following the Republican House primary results in Texas' 23rd Congressional District.
Gonzales, who is 45 years old, expressed remorse for his actions during the interview, stating, "I made a mistake, and I had a lapse in judgment." He continued by acknowledging a "lack of faith" and took full responsibility for the affair that occurred in May 2024. Since the incident, Gonzales has reconciled with his wife and sought forgiveness for his actions.
Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, the involved former staffer, was a married mother and the regional director of Gonzales' Uvalde office at the time of the affair. Her death occurred after she set herself on fire in her backyard in Uvalde. Responding officers found that she had doused herself with gasoline before igniting the flames. She succumbed to her injuries at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, as reported by her family.
The circumstances leading up to Santos-Aviles' death have drawn significant media attention and public scrutiny. Text messages obtained by CBS News revealed that Gonzales had sent inappropriate messages to Santos-Aviles, requesting a "sexy pic" and inquiring about her "favorite position," to which she responded that his advances were going too far.
Adrian Aviles, the husband of the deceased, stated that he discovered the affair in 2024 and had reported it to his wife's co-workers. The couple separated, and according to Mr. Aviles, his wife faced ostracism in her workplace prior to her death.
The story gained increased visibility on February 17, 2026, when the San Antonio Express-News reported that Santos-Aviles had acknowledged the affair in a text message. This information has had political ramifications for Gonzales, who is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations of sexual misconduct and discrimination.
Despite the ongoing controversy and investigation, Gonzales has stated he will not resign from his position. President Donald Trump endorsed Gonzales in December 2025, and the congressman was present for Trump's visit to the Texas coast last week. The primary election did not yield a definitive winner, setting up a runoff election scheduled for May 26.
