Text messages show Rep. Tony Gonzales sought ‘sexy pic’ from staffer who pushed back
What the messages show
Sexually explicit text messages from May 2024 show U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican who represents Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, pressing a female staff member for a “sexy pic” and continuing a sexualized conversation after she resisted and told him he was going “too far.” The staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, served as the regional director in Gonzales’ Uvalde district office.
The messages include Santos-Aviles questioning whether she was hired because of her appearance and repeatedly declining to provide photos or engage further. The exchange is now central to a broader dispute involving Gonzales, the staffer’s widower, and competing claims about whether the congressman engaged in misconduct or is being targeted for political reasons.
Key timeline and parties involved
May 2024: The text exchange took place late at night, with Santos-Aviles telling Gonzales he was going “too far, boss.”
September 2025: Santos-Aviles died by suicide in Uvalde.
February 2026: The texts became public amid a contested Republican primary campaign in which Gonzales faces challenger Brandon Herrera.
Adrian Aviles, the widower, has publicly shared messages he says were authenticated and extracted from Santos-Aviles’ phone as part of an active legal claim. He has also sought a settlement through the process established for workplace disputes involving congressional offices.
Ethics and legal questions raised
House rules prohibit members from engaging in sexual relationships with employees under their supervision and also bar unwelcome sexual advances or conduct toward House employees. The content and context of the messages—particularly the staffer’s expressed discomfort—have intensified scrutiny over whether Gonzales’ communications violated House standards, even as the congressman disputes the underlying allegations.
The dispute has also brought renewed attention to the mechanisms available for congressional workplace claims, including counseling, mediation, and potential settlement under the framework governing employment-related complaints tied to congressional offices.
Gonzales’ response and political stakes
Gonzales has denied having an improper relationship and has cast the controversy as politically motivated, arguing he is being pressured or threatened in connection with the allegations. He has not publicly disputed that the text exchange occurred as shown in the messages now circulating.
The staffer’s response in the texts included a direct warning to Gonzales that he was going “too far,” highlighting the power imbalance at issue in supervisor-employee communications.
The developments come as early voting is underway ahead of the March 3, 2026, Republican primary. The 23rd District stretches from the San Antonio area along the border region toward West Texas, making the outcome significant both locally and for statewide party dynamics. Any formal ethics findings, disciplinary steps, or legal resolutions have not been publicly finalized in connection with the newly released text messages.