Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) (Photo: official congresisonal photo)
Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales (Texas) is in a battle with his GOP opponent over a bizarre story about a former staffer who killed themselves.
Brandon Herrera, who is running against Gonzales in the GOP primary, accused the congressman of having an affair with Regina Santos-Aviles, a former aide who set herself on fire in her Uvalde home last year.
On Tuesday, the Express-News reported a former staffer in Gonzales’ office claimed that Santos-Aviles had told him in 2024 she had had an affair with the congressman. The ex-staffer provided text messages in which she said she “had an affair with our boss.”
Santos-Aviles' husband, Adrian, went public for the first time on Wednesday, alleging that Gonzalez "abused his power" with the romantic involvement. The Express-news called it an "open secret among staff members."
Aviles said he "couldn’t bear to sit by" while Gonzales dodged responsibility. He said that the congressman was attempting to "lie on my wife's name."
"I hope that Tony will stand up and be accountable for his actions," he added.
The couple had separated in the aftermath but were sharing parenting responsibilities of their child.
The former colleague said that Santos-Aviles became deeply depressed after her husband uncovered the relationship, while Gonzalez cut her off.
"They black-sheeped her," Aviles said.
"They severed communications with her," he explained. "They gave her a month off. They're essentially trying to push her out. ... and make her quit."
She began spiraling, he said, looking "noticeably depressed." Prior to this, she had no history of mental instability. She'd threatened to kill herself about a month before her death and called the police. Investigators found "nothing of concern," the report said.
Herrera began implying that the reason she killed herself had to do with Gonzalez specifically.
In an email posted by Gonzales from a lawyer named Bobby Barrera on X, the congressman alleged, "I WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED. Disgusting to see people profit politically and financially off a tragic death. The public should IMMEDIATELY have full access to the Uvalde Police report. I will keep fighting for #TX23."
According to Fox San Antoino, Barrera represents Aviles.
The email screen capture he posted reads: "...problem for your client in my pursuit of CAA is that this is clearly a public record claim, and I don't have a way to file it without potentially damaging his career, even if I am unsuccessful in its pursuit. That is clearly not my goal or we would have filed this claim already. That being said, I am back to my original offer of settlement with a Non-Disclosure agreement. The maximum recoverable under the ACC is $300,000.00. As a coincidence, this is the amount normally associated with most homeowner's policies and was the amount we would have sought thereunder. We definitely have limitations and deadlines on our CAA, so time is of the essence. If you are well enough to visit I would be happy to do so. If not, if you or your staff could let me know with whom I should be conferring that would be great. I hope it's you! Bobby."
Barrera told Fox San Antonio, “We have all the texts. I've seen them, I've read them, and there's nothing that Tony can say that would dispute the texts that he sent back and forth with Regina clearly being related to a sexual affair."
He told the reporter that they intend to "explore any potential legal issues, legal remedies,”including “potentially, the sexual harassment and workplace harassment after the discovery of this affair.”
Aviles wrote on X in reply to the Congressman, "We have never blackmailed anyone. What we’ve seen instead is a consistent pattern of evasion, refusal to take accountability and outright lies to protect your image."
"You’re a classic case of a two-faced politician who says whatever is convenient to save face," he continued. "We chose to hold back the full police report and body cam footage for one reason only it shows my wife suffering severe burns in horrific detail. I will not allow that graphic material to become accessible to our 8 year old son in the future when he is old enough to search for or come across it. Nothing in that police report protects you, that decision is about protecting our child’s well-being, not concealing anything improper."
He closed by saying, "Your actions have been disgraceful, and you continue to mislead your constituents with falsehoods. You may avoid responsibility here on earth, but one day you will answer to a higher authority. Today, though, you still answer to the people you represent — people who deserve the truth, not more deception."
Aviles' lawyer said that he's now not only living with what happened to his wife but her death "has become a political football between two candidates vying for a political office."
Brandon Herrera replied to the post from Gonzales, saying, "You are guilty and should resign."
“Ms. Santos-Aviles was a kind soul who devoted her life to making the community a better place,” Gonzales said in a statement on Wednesday. “Her efforts led to improvements in school safety, healthcare, and rural water like never before. It’s shameful that Brandon Herrera is using a disgruntled former staffer to smear her memory and score political points, conveniently pushing this out the very day early voting started. I am not going to engage in these personal smears and instead will remain focused on helping President Trump secure the border and improve the lives of all Texans.”