Texas Congressman Claims Blackmail Over Affair With Dead Staffer

Scandal Rocks Primary Campaign

Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales of Texas finds himself at the center of a devastating scandal just weeks before his March 3 primary election. The married father of six is facing allegations of an affair with a former staffer who died by suicide after setting herself on fire , and now claims he's being blackmailed by the dead woman's husband.

On Thursday, Gonzales posted on social media: "I WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED. Disgusting to see people profit politically and financially off a tragic death." He shared a screenshot of an email from a lawyer requesting a settlement of up to $300,000 from Gonzales in exchange for a non-disclosure agreement.

Text messages obtained by the San Antonio Express-News showed the deceased aide, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, writing to another staffer in April 2025: "I had an affair with our boss and I'm fine." The 35-year-old regional district director worked in Gonzales' Uvalde office before her tragic death.

Tragic End to Hidden Relationship

Santos-Aviles died on September 14, 2025, a day after authorities said she poured gasoline on herself in the backyard of her Uvalde home and was engulfed in flames. The Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled her death a suicide by self-immolation.

Her husband Adrian Aviles discovered the affair in May 2024 when he found sexually explicit texts between his wife and Gonzales on her phone, just one day after the congressman narrowly won a GOP runoff election. Santos-Aviles began taking antidepressants last summer as her stress connected to the affair deepened.

Some staff members learned about the relationship during the 2024 election cycle, with the pair reportedly staying at a rental cabin in Concan, Texas, during the primary campaign and visiting for several hours on two occasions in May 2024.

Legal Battle and Political Fallout

The attorney's email referenced the Congressional Accountability Act, which provides congressional staffers an avenue to sue if they face discrimination, harassment or labor violations at work. However, lawyer Robert Barrera dismissed Gonzales' blackmail claims as "a desperate attempt to make him look again like a political victim," stating "There's no blackmail here."

Adrian Aviles responded on social media, denying any blackmail attempt and explaining that police reports were being withheld to protect their eight-year-old son from seeing images of his mother's death. "Nothing in that police report protects you, that decision is about protecting our child's well-being, not concealing anything improper," he wrote.

The scandal threatens Gonzales' reelection bid, as he faces a primary challenge from Brandon Herrera, who narrowly lost to Gonzales in 2024 and has called for his resignation. Despite being endorsed by President Trump , the San Antonio Express-News has pulled its endorsement of Gonzales following the revelations.

Ethics Questions and Future Implications

The allegations come as Congress has strengthened ethics rules, with the U.S. House passing internal ethics rules barring lawmaker-staffer relationships in 2018 at the height of the #MeToo movement. State Representative Wes Virdell, whose district overlaps with Gonzales', said the federal lawmaker should step down if the affair allegations are true, stating "The family deserves to heal and get past this terrible tragedy."

The controversy highlights ongoing challenges around power dynamics in congressional offices and the enforcement of workplace relationship policies. With the primary election just days away, voters will ultimately decide whether these allegations disqualify Gonzales from continued service, potentially reshaping the political landscape in this competitive border district that stretches from San Antonio to El Paso.

The case also underscores the human cost of political scandals, as a family continues to grieve while navigating intense public scrutiny and legal proceedings that may extend far beyond election day.