GOP Lawmaker Accused Of Affair With Aide Who Later Set Herself On Fire

Republican Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales is accused of having a romantic relationship with a former aide who died last year after setting herself on fire.

In the months before her death, Santos-Aviles sent a message to another Gonzales staffer saying that she had an affair with the congressman, according to a San Antonio Express-News report.

A former employee in Gonzales’ district office who worked closely with Santos-Aviles said she confided in him about the relationship in 2024. He claimed she became deeply depressed after her husband learned of the affair and Gonzales allegedly ended contact with her. The former staffer also provided the San Antonio Express-News with a screenshot of a text from Santos-Aviles in which she referenced having an “affair with our boss.”

The staffer, who spoke to the outlet on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation, criticized Gonzales’ office for failing to act, saying he alerted the congressman’s district director months before Santos-Aviles’ death that he was worried about her well-being. He described her as his “best friend” and said their families were close.

🚨Just in: Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales had an affair with a former aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, who later set herself on fire, according to Gonzales’ ex-staffer.

Months before her death, Santos-Aviles texted another Gonzales staffer confirming the affair.

Gonzales has… pic.twitter.com/94KWs8gcF1

— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) February 18, 2026

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