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The husband of a former congressional aide who died tragically in September has released text messages that he says prove U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales (R-TX) carried on a sexual relationship with his wife — a woman who worked directly under the congressman.
Adrian Aviles shared nine screenshots of text messages with KSAT Investigates on Monday, providing the most detailed evidence yet of the alleged affair between Gonzales and Regina Santos-Aviles, who served as a regional director in the congressman’s Uvalde office.
Santos-Aviles died on September 14 after investigators said she set herself on fire at her Uvalde home. She was 38 years old.
What the Messages Show
The text messages, allegedly exchanged just after midnight on May 9, 2024, paint a disturbing picture of a powerful elected official pressuring a subordinate employee for sexual content.
In the exchange, Gonzales asked Santos-Aviles for a “sexy pic.” When she deflected, saying she didn’t like taking pictures of herself, Gonzales pressed her, responding that he was “just such a visual person.”
The conversation escalated when Gonzales asked Santos-Aviles about her sexual preferences and described a sex act in graphic detail.
At multiple points in the conversation, Santos-Aviles appeared to push back against the congressman’s advances.
She wrote “this is going too far, boss” and later told him directly, “this is too far, Tony.” She also questioned whether he had hired her based on her appearance rather than her qualifications — a concern Gonzales dismissed.
Santos-Aviles had left her position as executive director of the Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce in November 2021 to work for Gonzales’ congressional office.
A Husband’s Discovery
According to Bobby Barrera, the attorney representing Adrian Aviles, the husband discovered the messages in June 2024. The couple separated that summer but never filed for divorce.
Aviles also shared a message he sent from his wife’s phone on June 1, 2024, to Gonzales and several other staffers informing them of his discovery and announcing the couple’s plans to divorce.
Gonzales Refuses to Address Allegations
Despite more than two dozen requests for comment from KSAT Investigates since September, Gonzales’ office has not responded to questions about the alleged affair.
Instead, the congressman has taken to social media to characterize the story as a “coordinated political attack” timed to damage him ahead of the March 3 Republican primary. He posted on X that he “WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED” and accused unnamed people of trying to profit from Santos-Aviles’ death.
Notably, Gonzales has never directly denied having a sexual relationship with his former aide.
Growing Calls for Accountability
The fallout is mounting. The Office of Congressional Conduct opened an ethics investigation into Gonzales months before the affair allegations became public.
House Speaker Mike Johnson stopped short of calling for Gonzales’ resignation but said the congressman must address the accusations with his constituents. Even fellow Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert has publicly called on Gonzales to resign.
Republican primary challenger Brandon Herrera responded more bluntly, saying Gonzales “is guilty and should resign.”
Adrian Aviles also responded directly to Gonzales’ social media deflections, calling the congressman a “homewrecking, perverted, sick man” and urging President Trump to withdraw his endorsement.
A Tragedy That Demands Answers
At the heart of this scandal is a woman who is no longer alive to tell her own story. Regina Santos-Aviles was a professional, a mother, and a community leader in Uvalde.
The text messages suggest she was an employee who tried to set boundaries with a powerful boss — and those boundaries were repeatedly ignored.
The people of Texas’ 23rd Congressional District deserve a representative who answers to them, not one who hides behind accusations of political attacks while refusing to address serious allegations of misconduct.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or thoughts of suicide, call 988 or text TALK to 741-741.
