Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales says he is being 'blackmailed' over reported affair with former staffer
#Tony Gonzales #blackmail #affair scandal #Regina Ann Santos-Aviles #Texas Republican #primary election #congressional ethics #Uvalde
📌 Key Takeaways
- Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales claims he is being blackmailed over an alleged affair with deceased staffer Regina Ann Santos-Aviles
- The staffer's husband Adrian Aviles and his attorney proposed a $300,000 settlement with a non-disclosure agreement
- Political fallout includes calls for Gonzales to step down and rescinded endorsements as he faces a primary election
- Santos-Aviles died by self-immolation in September 2025 after her husband discovered the alleged affair
📖 Full Retelling
Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales revealed on February 19, 2026, that he is being 'blackmailed' by the husband of his deceased former staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, following allegations of an affair between the lawmaker and the woman who died by self-immolation in Uvalde, Texas in September 2025. Gonzales, who has publicly denied the affair allegations, posted a partial screenshot of an email from attorney Robert Barrera representing Adrian Aviles, proposing a $300,000 settlement with a non-disclosure agreement. The communication seemingly references statutory deadlines for the Congressional Accountability Act, which provides congressional staffers legal recourse against workplace discrimination, harassment or labor violations. Gonzales responded by stating he 'will not be blackmailed' and accused people of 'profit[ing] politically and financially off a tragic death,' calling for the immediate release of the Uvalde Police report on Santos-Aviles' suicide. Aviles countered that the full police report and body-cam footage were withheld because they show his wife 'on fire in horrific detail,' adding that he has never blackmailed the congressman but has witnessed 'a consistent pattern of evasion, refusal to take accountability, and outright lies to protect your image.' The political fallout has been significant, with State Rep. Wes Virdell calling for Gonzales to step down if the affair allegations are true, and the San Antonio Express-News editorial board rescinding its endorsement of the Texas representative. The allegations became public through messages first reported by the Express-News, with a former colleague confirming the affair occurred in 2024, after which Santos-Aviles became depressed following her husband's discovery of the relationship. Gonzales is scheduled to face Brandon Herrera in the Republican primary on March 3, with Herrera already having politicized the former staffer's death by citing potential ethics violations.
🏷️ Themes
Political Scandal, Ethics Violations, Blackmail, Election Impact
📚 Related People & Topics
Tony Gonzales
American politician (born 1980)
# Tony Gonzales **Ernest Anthony Gonzales II** (born October 10, 1980) is an American politician and United States Navy veteran serving as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 23rd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, he assumed office in 2021. His district is notable for encomp...
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