Dead Aide’s Texts EXPOSE Congressman’s Lies

Text messages from a congressional aide who died by suicide reveal she admitted to an affair with her boss—a married congressman who repeatedly denied the relationship even after her tragic death.

Story Highlights

Regina Santos-Aviles, 35, texted colleagues admitting to an affair with Rep. Tony Gonzales months before her September 2025 death by self-immolation
The San Antonio Express-News documented the relationship through text messages, contradicting Gonzales’ previous denials
Former staffers report Santos-Aviles was professionally sidelined after the affair became known among office personnel
The revelations surfaced on the first day of early voting in Gonzales’ contested GOP primary race
The newspaper’s editorial board withdrew its endorsement of the congressman, citing character concerns and workplace power imbalances

The Text Messages That Changed Everything

Regina Santos-Aviles sent a text message in April 2025 to a distraught colleague, offering consolation while revealing her own painful secret. She admitted to having an affair with Rep. Tony Gonzales, the Texas congressman who employed her as his Uvalde Regional District Director. The 35-year-old mother and wife had joined his office in 2021, eventually becoming what colleagues described as his top district employee. Those text messages, reviewed by the San Antonio Express-News months after her death, provide documentary evidence that directly contradicts Gonzales’ repeated public denials of any romantic relationship.

The affair reportedly began during the 2024 election cycle, creating an inherent power imbalance between an elected official and his subordinate. Santos-Aviles’ husband, Adrian Aviles, discovered text messages between his wife and the congressman that confirmed the relationship. Attorney Bobby Barrera, representing the husband, confirmed the affair was common knowledge among staff members, though he stated he did not believe the relationship directly caused her suicide. The documented evidence makes this more than political gossip—it raises serious questions about workplace ethics and the treatment of subordinate staff members in congressional offices.

Professional Retaliation and Mental Health Decline

After the affair became known to staff in May 2024, Santos-Aviles experienced what former colleagues describe as systematic professional isolation. She went from accompanying Gonzales on official visits to being excluded from meetings and events. Former staffers told investigators she was “frozen out” of work responsibilities, transforming from the congressman’s most valued district employee to effectively nothing. This professional exile occurred while she was still employed, creating a toxic work environment where she maintained her title but lost her actual responsibilities and access.

The professional consequences coincided with a deteriorating mental health situation. Santos-Aviles began taking antidepressants during the summer of 2025. Former colleagues expressed concerns about her mental well-being to district director Jalen Falcon in June 2025. The Express-News reported an alleged suicide attempt in August 2025 that resulted in police being called to her home, though the newspaper noted it could not independently confirm that event. These warning signs were apparently known to office leadership, yet Santos-Aviles remained in a professional limbo until her death by self-immolation at her Uvalde home on September 13, 2025.

Denials, Deflections, and Political Consequences

Gonzales denied the affair allegations when they first surfaced in an October 2024 Daily Mail report. At the Texas Tribune festival in November 2024, he characterized the accusations as “people throwing rocks at me, saying I’m doing nasty things.” He maintained these denials even after Santos-Aviles’ death, refusing to answer questions from KSAT Investigates about the alleged relationship. His continued denials make the documented text messages particularly damaging—they demonstrate either deliberate deception or a troubling disconnect from documented facts.

When the Express-News published its comprehensive report on February 18, 2026, Gonzales shifted his response. Rather than addressing the documented evidence, he attacked his GOP primary opponent Brandon Herrera, claiming the timing—the first day of early voting—proved political motivation. Gonzales called it shameful to use a disgruntled former staffer to smear Santos-Aviles’ memory. This deflection ignores the documentary evidence from Santos-Aviles herself and the multiple former staffers who corroborated the professional retaliation. Character matters in public service, and voters deserve representatives who tell the truth even when it’s politically inconvenient.

The Power Imbalance Problem

The San Antonio Express-News editorial board withdrew its endorsement of Gonzales, stating the affair demonstrated “a disturbing lack of character from an elected official.” The board emphasized this was not an equal relationship—Santos-Aviles worked for Gonzales, making her professionally dependent on him. This power dynamic is precisely why such relationships violate ethical standards in military and corporate settings. Brandon Herrera drew this comparison, noting that similar conduct would result in court-martial and dismissal from military service. House ethics rules exist for this reason, protecting subordinate employees from exploitation.

Gonzales is married with six children, adding another layer of deception to the affair. Beyond the personal betrayal, the professional consequences Santos-Aviles faced after the relationship became known demonstrate the dangers of workplace relationships with inherent power imbalances. She lost her professional standing, her mental health deteriorated, and ultimately she took her own life. While her attorney stated he did not believe the relationship directly caused her suicide, the timeline of professional retaliation, mental health decline, and eventual death cannot be ignored. The Uvalde community, still recovering from the 2022 school shooting tragedy, lost a dedicated public servant who had worked on school safety improvements.

Electoral Implications and Accountability

The timing of these revelations carries immediate political consequences. Texas’ 23rd Congressional District stretches from San Antonio to El Paso and represents competitive territory. Herrera argues the controversy could jeopardize Republican control of the seat, potentially handing Democrats an opportunity in a swing district. President Trump endorsed Gonzales in December 2025, before the documented text messages became public. The March 3, 2026 primary will test whether Republican voters prioritize character and truthfulness or accept explanations that blame political opponents for documented misconduct.

Uvalde Police and the Texas Rangers continue investigating Santos-Aviles’ death, with authorities confirming no evidence of foul play. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled it a suicide by self-immolation. These official findings don’t address the ethical violations or the professional retaliation that preceded her death. Congressional accountability requires more than avoiding criminal charges—it demands truthfulness with constituents, ethical workplace conduct, and taking responsibility when those standards are violated. The documented evidence makes continued denials untenable, and voters deserve representatives who demonstrate basic integrity in both their personal and professional conduct.