Texas GOP Rep Tony Gonzales allegedly had affair with aide who committed suicide: report

Texas GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales allegedly had an affair with an aide who committed suicide last year, according to a news report.

A former staffer in Gonzales' district office said that the congressman's regional district director, 35-year-old Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, had an affair with Gonzales the year before she set herself on fire outside her Uvalde home, the San Antonio Express-News reported Wednesday.

Santos-Aviles, who was married and the mother of an 8-year-old boy, died on Sept. 14, 2025.

The former staffer also said Santos-Aviles told him that she and Gonzales had an affair in 2024, then she spiraled into a depression after her husband discovered the relationship and the congressman abruptly cut her off. 

He also shared a screenshot of a text message with the news outlet from Santos-Aviles in which she acknowledged having an "affair with our boss."

The unnamed former staffer, 24, blamed Gonzales' office for not intervening, saying he warned the congressman's district director months before Santos-Aviles' death that he was concerned about her well-being. The former staffer described Santos-Aviles as his "best friend" and said their families knew each other.

Gonzales' office didn't respond to the San Antonio Express-News' request for comment.

In November, Gonzales said regarding the circumstances of Santos-Aviles' death, "People throwing rocks at me, saying I'm doing nasty things – I totally get that.

"But the rumors are completely untruthful," he added, calling her death a "very tragic situation."

According to an attorney for Santos-Aviles' husband, her romantic relationship with the congressman was an open secret, but he does not believe it played a role in her death. 

Santos-Aviles and her husband had been separated for a couple of months by September and were sharing parenting responsibilities for their 8-year-old son. Authorities have said there was no evidence of foul play in Santos-Aviles' death.

At the time of the alleged affair, both she and Gonzales were married to other people.

The former staffer said he considered going public about the affair in November, but was afraid he would lose his job. He resigned last month

Gonzales, who has been endorsed by President Trump, faces three challengers in the state's March 3 primary election.