A Trump-endorsed Texas congressman faces explosive allegations of an extramarital affair with a subordinate staffer who later died by suicide, raising serious questions about ethical conduct and workplace power dynamics just days before voters head to the polls.
Text Messages Expose Alleged Workplace Affair
U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales faces mounting scrutiny after text messages surfaced showing his former aide, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, admitted to having an affair with the congressman. On April 28, 2025, Santos-Aviles sent a text to a colleague stating: “I had an affair with our boss and I’m fine. You will be fine.”
The San Antonio Express-News investigation published screenshots of these messages in February 2026, just as early voting began for Gonzales’ primary reelection contest. The timing has intensified political fallout for the married congressman representing Texas’ 23rd District, which includes the border region and Uvalde.
Staffer’s Mental Health Decline and Tragic Death
Santos-Aviles, who served as regional director handling sensitive Uvalde school shooting response issues, experienced severe professional isolation after her husband discovered texts and notified staff in 2024. Former colleagues report she was systematically excluded from meetings and Uvalde trips, transforming from a top staffer into a marginalized employee.
By summer 2025, she had started taking antidepressants, and colleagues raised mental health concerns to district director Jalen Falcon in June. Despite these warnings, her situation deteriorated. On September 13, 2025, Santos-Aviles died by self-immolation in Uvalde after dousing herself with gasoline. The Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled her death a suicide, with Uvalde Police and Texas Rangers finding no evidence of foul play.
Congressman Denies Allegations as Political Attack
Gonzales has consistently denied the affair allegations since rumors first emerged in October 2025. In February 2026, responding to the Express-News report, he issued a statement praising Santos-Aviles’ community work and calling the allegations “shameful” attacks orchestrated by his primary opponent, Brandon Herrera. The congressman emphasized his focus on policy priorities, including border security and the Trump administration’s agenda. However, the denials have failed to quell criticism. Bobby Barrera, attorney for Santos-Aviles’ husband Adrian Aviles, confirmed that multiple staff members knew about the affair, though he expressed doubt about linking it directly to her suicide. The power imbalance inherent in a boss-subordinate relationship raises serious ethical concerns regardless of mental health outcomes.
Primary Challenge Intensifies Amid Ethics Questions
Brandon Herrera, a gun rights activist challenging Gonzales in the March 3, 2026 Republican primary, seized on the revelations to demand the congressman’s resignation. Herrera compared the situation to military court-martial standards, alleging violations of House ethics rules and misuse of taxpayer funds. The challenge comes despite President Trump endorsing Gonzales in December 2025 for the rematch against Herrera, who narrowly lost the 2024 primary.
The San Antonio Express-News editorial board withdrew its endorsement of Gonzales, declaring the situation revealed “an act of deception” and “not an equal relationship” given the inherent power dynamics. The controversy threatens not only Gonzales’ political future but potentially creates vulnerability in a GOP-held district that Republicans cannot afford to lose with narrow House margins.
Months before her death, Regina Santos-Aviles texted a fellow U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales staffer saying she had an affair with the congressman.
He has ducked questions about it. https://t.co/EOrONdomSG pic.twitter.com/z49f8z0CfL
— San Antonio Express-News (@ExpressNews) February 18, 2026
Workplace Power Abuse Highlights Broader Congressional Ethics Issues
The allegations against Gonzales underscore persistent problems with workplace power dynamics on Capitol Hill that conservatives rightly expect representatives to avoid. The congressman, married with six children, allegedly engaged in a relationship with a subordinate employee—a clear violation of professional boundaries that any military officer or corporate executive would face consequences for committing. Santos-Aviles’ subsequent isolation within the office after the affair was exposed demonstrates how such misconduct creates a toxic work environment. Her family’s grief has now become a public spectacle during a heated election, and the Uvalde community lost an advocate who worked on school safety issues following the 2022 Robb Elementary tragedy. Voters deserve representatives who uphold family values and ethical conduct, not those who abuse positions of authority over vulnerable employees.
Sources:
Report alleges West Texas congressman had affair with aide who died by suicide – Audacy
Texts Show Aide Admitted to Affair with Lawmaker Prior to Death by Suicide – iHeartRadio
Report alleges former Tony Gonzales aide who died by suicide had affair with him – News4SA
Tony Gonzales’ staffer who died by suicide had affair with him, text shows – Texas Tribune