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By Kate Plummer
Senior US News Reporter
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A deceased former aide to Texas Republican Tony Gonzales is facing further public scrutiny after texts, purporting to be from her, appeared to confirm she and Gonzales had an affair.
Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, an advisor to Gonzales, set herself on fire outside her home in Uvalde, Texas, and died of her injuries on September, 14, 2025. According to local television station KENS, the Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide.
There is no suggestion the affair played a role in her death.
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Gonzales, who has represented Texas's 23rd congressional district since 2021, allegedly had a romantic relationship with Santos-Aviles in 2024, according to text messages revealed Tuesday by the San Antonio Express-News.
Gonzales denied the affair in a November appearance at the Texas Tribune Festival.
Newsweek has not independently reviewed the text messages and reached out to representatives for Gonzales by email to comment on this story outside of normal business hours.
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Why It Matters
The alleged affair would be prohibited under the House Code of Official Conduct, which prevents relationships between members of Congress and their staff. Breaching these rules could spark an investigation by the House Ethics Committee.
The alleged affair may also affect Gonzales' fate in the upcoming GOP primary. His opponent, Brandon Herrera, came within 400 votes of beating him in the 2024 runoff election.
What To Know
Santos-Aviles, 35, worked for Gonzales, a married father of six, from November 2021, his first year in office, until her death.
According to the Express-News, Santos-Aviles' husband, Adrian Aviles, discovered text messages confirming the relationship, including one in which she acknowledged having an "affair with our boss."
The publication said another former staffer said Santos-Aviles became depressed after her husband found out about the alleged affair and Gonzales cut her off. Her husband also told local press she appeared depressed before her death.
According to her LinkedIn profile, she worked in various local government roles before becoming Gonzales' regional director.
An online obituary created at the time of her death said: "Regina lit up every room she entered. She carried herself with grace and confidence that inspired those around her. Her smile was contagious, and her laugh made you feel like you were part of an inside joke, a gift she shared generously with family, friends, and even strangers fortunate enough to cross her path."
She is survived by her son, Alex; her husband, Adrian; her mother, Nora Gonzales; her stepfather, Jaime Gonzales; her brother, Johnnie Santos; and her nieces, Isis and Amaya," the obituary said. San Antonio Express-News said her son was 8 years old.
Adrian Aviles told The San Antonio Express-News he found out about the alleged affair in May 2024 when he noticed Santos-Aviles texting Gonzales and that the couple separated three or four months later, though they wanted to reconcile.
He said the messages Gonzales sent were "very sexual in nature" and that Gonzales "abused his power" through his involvement with Santos-Aviles. He added "he should have held himself to a higher standard as a congressional leader."
Aviles added that Santos-Aviles "was in charge of 11 of the 23” counties in Gonzales' congressional district. “She was damn good at what she did," he said.
The San Antonio Express-News has pulled its endorsement of the politician in the upcoming midterm election amid the affair allegations.
What People Are Saying
Gonzales, addressed Santos-Aviles' death during an interview in November at the Texas Tribune Festival, according to San Antonio Express-News: "People throwing rocks at me, saying I'm doing nasty things—I totally get that," Gonzales said. "But the rumors are completely untruthful."
Gonzales told CBS News Wednesday he would not "engage in these personal smears and instead remain focused on helping President Trump secure the border and improve the lives of all Texans."
He said Santos-Aviles was a "kind soul who devoted her life to making the community a better place. Her efforts led to improvements in school safety, healthcare, and rural water like never before."
Santos-Aviles allegedly wrote on April 28, 2025: "I had [an] affair with our boss and I'm fine."
Brandon Herrera, Gonzales' GOP primary opponent, wrote on X: "This is completely unacceptable behavior for anyone, let along a sitting member of Congress. Tony must step down."
What Happens Next
The political fallout to the alleged affair will continue. Gonzales is running in the GOP primary on March 3.
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