GOP Lawmaker Accused Of Affair With Aide Who Later Set Herself On Fire

Republican Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales is accused of having a romantic relationship with a former aide who died last year after setting herself on fire.

In the months before her death, Santos-Aviles sent a message to another Gonzales staffer saying that she had an affair with the congressman, according to a San Antonio Express-News report.

A former employee in Gonzales’ district office who worked closely with Santos-Aviles said she confided in him about the relationship in 2024. He claimed she became deeply depressed after her husband learned of the affair and Gonzales allegedly ended contact with her. The former staffer also provided the San Antonio Express-News with a screenshot of a text from Santos-Aviles in which she referenced having an “affair with our boss.” (RELATED: Death Of Congressional Staffer For Republican Texas Rep Under Investigation)

The staffer, who spoke to the outlet on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation, criticized Gonzales’ office for failing to act, saying he alerted the congressman’s district director months before Santos-Aviles’ death that he was worried about her well-being. He described her as his “best friend” and said their families were close.

🚨Just in: Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales had an affair with a former aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, who later set herself on fire, according to Gonzales’ ex-staffer.

Months before her death, Santos-Aviles texted another Gonzales staffer confirming the affair.

Gonzales has… pic.twitter.com/94KWs8gcF1

— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) February 18, 2026

Former Gonzales staffer Regina Santos-Aviles died in September after self-immolating outside her home in Uvalde, Texas, police reports stated.

Two sources familiar with the matter told the Daily Caller that the alleged relationship was an open secret in Texas political circles.

The Caller had previously been unable to independently confirm firsthand that Gonzales was engaged in a relationship with Santos-Aviles. Rumors about the affair had been swirling for months before Current Revolt reported that a source close to the congressman’s office had confirmed Gonzales’ relationship with the deceased aide.

🚨SCOOP: Republican Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales’s support from GOP primary voters CRATERS after they learn of his alleged affair with a district staffer, according to a new Trafalgar Group poll obtained by the Daily Caller. pic.twitter.com/bB2GluMaKa

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) November 3, 2025

An attorney representing Santos-Aviles’ husband said the alleged romantic relationship with the congressman was widely known but does not believe it played a role in her death. Authorities have said there is no evidence of foul play. At the time of the alleged affair, both Santos-Aviles and Gonzales were married to other people.

The Caller first contacted the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Rangers Division in September seeking information about the investigation into Santos-Aviles’ death and was directed to submit a public records request.

When reached again Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Texas DPS wrote, “The Texas Rangers are assisting the Uvalde Police Department with this investigation. We’d refer you to the Uvalde Police Department for any information.” (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: GOP Rep Could Be In Big Trouble If Public Learns More About Alleged Affair Partner Setting Herself On Fire)

A 24-year-old former staffer said he considered going public with allegations of an affair as early as November but ultimately decided against it out of fear he would lose his job. After Santos-Aviles’ suicide, he alleges he stopped reporting to work for several months, saying he no longer felt he could “sell [Gonzales’] message and his ideals.”

He told the outlet he resigned last month, moved to Los Angeles and is now working on two local Democratic campaigns.

The former staffer said he was neither paid nor promised anything by Gonzales’ primary opponents and expressed frustration that law enforcement never contacted him during their investigation.

The former staffer said the relationship became “common knowledge” among some staff during the 2024 election cycle. He alleged that in May 2024, Gonzales and Santos-Aviles twice met at his family’s rental cabin in Concan near Uvalde, staying for one to two hours each time while Gonzales was in a GOP primary runoff against Brandon Herrera.

About two weeks later, he said, Santos-Aviles called him upset, saying her husband, Adrian Aviles, had discovered text messages revealing the relationship. She told the staffer they had been having an affair. The call came May 29, one day after Gonzales narrowly won the runoff. The former staffer said Adrian Aviles later texted a group of Gonzales’ district staffers about the relationship.

LOL.

Tony Gonzales is in the Epstein files listed as a Democrat.

This is not a meme, I’m dead serious 😂 pic.twitter.com/3Bo8T8Vf4H

— Brandon Herrera (@TheAKGuy) February 5, 2026

Bobby Barrera, Aviles’ attorney, confirmed the affair “was not a secret among the staff.”

“It’s common knowledge,” Barrera said. “The staff was clearly aware this event was occurring.” (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Poll Shows Brandon Herrera Overtaking Tony Gonzales In Key House Primary)

Barrera added that Aviles has been hesitant to speak publicly out of concern for the couple’s young son.

“To him, this is personal. To everybody else, it’s political,” Barrera said. “That’s his son’s mother, and nobody seems to care. They just want to burn Tony.”

In the text thread allegedly shared with the Express-News, Santos-Aviles wrote, “I had (sic) affair with our boss and I’m fine. You will be fine.” The message, timestamped April 27, 2025, was verified by the newspaper as having been sent from her phone number.

Gonzales, a Republican representing Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, is seeking reelection in a contested primary.

Santos-Aviles was Gonzales’ regional district director in Uvalde and the mother of an 8-year-old boy. Gonzales did not attend her funeral, according to reports.

The Caller reached out to Gonzales for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.