Allegations Renew Scrutiny of Rep. Tony Gonzales After Aide’s Suicide and Affair Claims Surface

What is known about the allegations

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican who represents Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, is facing renewed scrutiny following claims from a former staff member that Gonzales had a romantic relationship with a congressional aide who later died by suicide. The aide, Regina Ann “Regi” Santos-Aviles, served as a regional district director based in Uvalde.

The former staffer said Santos-Aviles told him in 2024 that she had an affair with Gonzales and that her mental health worsened after her husband discovered the relationship and Gonzales stopped communicating with her. The former staffer also provided a screenshot of a text exchange in which Santos-Aviles wrote that she had an “affair with our boss.” The messages were reported as having been verified as sent from a phone number that belonged to Santos-Aviles.

The death investigation and official findings

Santos-Aviles, 35, suffered severe burns in an incident outside her home in Uvalde on the night of Sept. 13, 2025, and died the next day, Sept. 14, 2025, after being transported to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Investigators said there was no evidence of foul play. Home surveillance video was reported to show she was alone when the fire began.

In November 2025, the Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled her death a suicide by self-immolation.

Responses from Gonzales and others close to the case

Gonzales has denied the rumors publicly in the past, describing them as “completely untruthful” during a public interview in November 2025. In a separate statement issued Feb. 18, 2026, Gonzales declined to address the allegation directly and characterized it as a personal smear, saying he would remain focused on border security and other priorities.

An attorney for Santos-Aviles’ husband was reported as describing the alleged relationship as widely known among some staff, while also stating he did not believe it played a role in her death. The former staffer said he warned a supervisor months before Santos-Aviles’ death that he was concerned about her well-being and that office routines changed after the alleged relationship became known internally, including canceled meetings in Uvalde.

Political and workplace implications

The allegations arrive amid an active election cycle. Gonzales is running for reelection and faces intra-party competition in the March 3, 2026 primary. Gonzales did not respond publicly to detailed questions reported as having been submitted about the matter.

• Key claim: a former staffer says Santos-Aviles acknowledged an affair with Gonzales in text messages and in direct conversations.
• Key verified outcome: the medical examiner ruled Santos-Aviles’ death a suicide; investigators reported no evidence of foul play.
• Key unresolved issues: the full extent of any workplace response and whether internal warnings were documented have not been publicly established.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 in the United States for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.