Reporters say Rep. Tony Gonzales (R‑TX) allegedly had an extramarital relationship with former aide Regina Ann Santos‑Aviles, who died by self‑immolation in September 2025. A former staffer and the aide’s husband’s attorney say the relationship was known to some members of Gonzales’s office and that the aide’s depression worsened after text messages were discovered. Gonzales has denied the rumors, and authorities said there was no evidence of foul play. The allegations are reported by Express News and have not been adjudicated in court.
Report: Rep. Tony Gonzales Allegedly Had Affair With Aide Who Died By Self‑Immolation
A new report says Rep. Tony Gonzales (R‑Texas) allegedly had an extramarital relationship with a former aide, Regina Ann Santos‑Aviles, who died by self‑immolation in September 2025.
Allegations and Timeline
According to Express News, Santos‑Aviles, 35, poured gasoline on herself outside her home and died by self‑immolation in September 2025. A former congressional staffer told the outlet that her struggles with depression intensified after her husband, Adrian Aviles, discovered text messages in which she allegedly admitted to an affair with Gonzales.
The staffer said the relationship was known to some members of Gonzales’s office in 2024. Bobby Barrera, the attorney for Santos‑Aviles’s husband, told Express News the affair "was not a secret among the staff."
“It’s common knowledge. The staff was clearly aware this event was occurring.” — Bobby Barrera, attorney for Adrian Aviles
Express News says it obtained and verified text messages in which Santos‑Aviles reportedly told a colleague in April 2024 that she was having an "affair with our boss." The staffer, who resigned from Gonzales’s office in January, said Santos‑Aviles called him crying after her husband discovered the messages and later sent a group text naming the congressman.
The former staffer alleged that, after the disclosure, Gonzales canceled meetings arranged by Santos‑Aviles and she stopped accompanying the congressman on visits to Uvalde. The staffer described a decline in her condition: he said she began taking antidepressants in the summer of 2025 and missed work frequently. He also said she had discussed Gonzales often and that she had gone from being a top employee to someone visibly struggling.
The same staffer said he raised concerns about Santos‑Aviles with Gonzales’s district director in June and claimed she attempted suicide about a month before her death; Express News did not independently confirm that attempted suicide.
Responses and Official Findings
Gonzales’s office did not respond to the outlet’s request for comment. In a November interview, the congressman called the "rumors" surrounding Santos‑Aviles’s death "completely untruthful" and described her passing as a "very tragic situation."
Authorities reported there was no evidence of foul play in Santos‑Aviles’s death. The reported allegations remain that: they are currently claims made in media reports and by former staff, not established legal findings.
Context and Sensitivity
This is a sensitive story involving alleged workplace misconduct and a tragic death by suicide. Media reports cite multiple sources, including a former staffer, an attorney for the family, and text messages claimed to have been verified by Express News.
Out of respect for those affected, further reporting should rely on confirmed sources and avoid speculation about motives. Readers are reminded that allegations reported in the media are not the same as proven facts in a court of law.
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