Feb. 19, 2026 © 2026 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

The San Antonio Express-News reported on a text message from a staffer admitting to having an affair with Gonzales. The staffer died last year after setting herself on fire in Uvalde.

Salacious reports have emerged alleging thatRep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) had an extramarital affair with staff member Regina Santos-Aviles —who died by suicide in September 2025.

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas claimed Thursday he was being “blackmailed” following a report he allegedly had an affair with a former staffer who later died after she set herself on fire. The claim by the married Republican congressman comes after the San Antonio Express-News reported that it had obtained text messages in which

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) “abused his power” when he allegedly had an affair with staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, who later fatally set herself on fire, the woman’s widower said Wednesday in his first public remarks about the tragedy.

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,

An aide to Rep. Tony Gonzales admitted that she had an affair with the Texas Republican in a text message to a colleague — months before she fatally set herself on fire. Regina Santos-Aviles appeared to acknowledge the tryst early on the morning of April 28,