A political firestorm is erupting in Texas after the husband of a congressional staffer who died last year publicly accused his wife’s former boss, Rep. Tony Gonzales, of sending “very sexual” messages and abusing his power.
Adrian Aviles says he discovered the alleged affair in May 2024 when he came home and found his wife, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, texting Gonzales. According to Aviles, his wife warned him, “You’re not going to like what you see,” before their marriage unraveled.
In an interview with the San Antonio Express-News, Aviles claimed he uncovered messages from Gonzales demanding sexual photographs from Santos-Aviles, who served as his regional district director. The New York Post later reported it obtained a screenshot of a message in which Santos-Aviles admitted to the relationship, writing to a colleague, “I had an affair with our boss and I’m fine.”
“Tony abused his power,” Aviles said. “He should have held himself to a higher standard as a congressional leader.”
Gonzales, a three-term Republican congressman who was endorsed for re-election by President Donald Trump in December, has firmly denied having an affair. On Wednesday, he suggested the accusations were politically motivated and tied to one of his GOP primary challengers, Brandon Herrera.
In a statement to the New York Post, Gonzales described Santos-Aviles as “a kind soul who devoted her life to making the community a better place,” and called it “shameful” that her memory was being dragged into a political fight. He said he would not engage in “personal smears” and instead remain focused on border security and serving Texans.
Aviles, however, says he came forward to defend his late wife’s reputation — and for the sake of their 8-year-old son.
“He talks with two tongues,” Aviles said, invoking scripture. “I hope that Tony will stand up and be accountable for his actions.”
According to Aviles, his wife considered filing a sexual harassment lawsuit and the couple sought counseling. He says he urged her to quit her job, but she refused, feeling committed to constituents in Gonzales’ district.
After Aviles confronted Gonzales and staff members via text, he claims his wife was effectively sidelined. “They severed communications with her. They gave her a month off. They were essentially trying to push her out,” he alleged — an account reportedly echoed by a former staffer.
The situation took a devastating turn months later.
In September 2025, after what Aviles described as a period of emotional decline, Santos-Aviles was hospitalized in San Antonio after setting herself on fire. She died the following day.
Aviles has said he does not believe her death was intentional.
“She loved her son so much,” he told the Daily Mail. “She would never do this purposely.”
The allegations now hang over Gonzales’ re-election campaign as early voting gets underway, intensifying scrutiny around the congressman’s personal conduct and workplace leadership.
With both sides digging in — one alleging coercion and abuse of power, the other calling the claims politically timed smears — the controversy is quickly becoming one of the most explosive congressional scandals of the 2026 election cycle.
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