WASHINGTON — 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, 2025, saying: “I had [an] affair with our boss and I’m fine,” according to a screenshot of the exchange obtained by The Post.
Santos-Aviles’ confession to her co-worker was first reported by the San Antonio Express-News, which subsequently withdrew its endorsement of Gonzales in the March 3 GOP primary, saying the congressman “has questions to answer.”
Regina Santos-Aviles, a staffer for Rep. Tony Gonzales, acknowledged in a text to a colleague that she had an affair with the congressman. Obtained by NY Post
Rep. Tony Gonzales speaks during a press conference on Dec. 20, 2023. Go Nakamura for NY Post
Gonzales told The Post in a statement Wednesday that he was “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.”
“Ms. Santos-Aviles was a kind soul who devoted her life to making the community a better place,” he said. “Her efforts led to improvements in school safety, healthcare, and rural water like never before.”
“It’s shameful that [primary rival] 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,” the lawmaker added.
In December, President Trump endorsed Gonzales for re-election to a fourth House term.
On Sept. 13, 2025, Santos-Aviles covered herself in gasoline before lighting herself ablaze in the backyard of her Uvalde, Texas, home.
She died of her injuries the following day.
The 35-year-old wife and mother of one worked as a regional director for Gonzales in the Lone Star State’s 23rd Congressional District, which comprises much of the area of west Texas bordering Mexico, including the western outskirts of San Antonio.
Rep. Tony Gonzales with his wife, Angel, in an undated photo. Facebook / Congressman Tony Gonzales
Regina Santos-Aviles (right) in an undated photo. Adrian Aviles / Facebook
The former colleague of Santos-Aviles, who provided the message to The Post and has since moved to Los Angeles to work on Democratic campaigns there, told the Express-News the affair became known among the congressman’s staff members during the 2024 election cycle.
That May, the person said, Santos-Aviles called them in tears because her husband, Adrian Aviles, had discovered text messages between Gonzales and Santos-Aviles confirming the affair and texted a group of local staffers to expose the relationship.
After that, in the former staffer’s words, Santos-Aviles “went from the number one employee in the office to nothing.” Gonzales canceled meetings arranged by his regional director and Santos-Aviles no longer accompanied him on visits to Uvalde.
Regina Santos-Aviles (right) took her own life by setting herself on fire. Facebook / Regina Santos Aviles
Congressional aide Regina Santos-Aviles took her own life last year. Regina Santos Aviles / Facebook
“She talked about Tony every day,” the former staffer told the Express-News, recalling that he went to Gonzales district director Jalen Falcon in June 2025 with concerns about Santos-Aviles’ mental well-being.
The ex-Gonzales aide told The Post Wednesday that it was a “terrible thing that happened,” and reaffirmed the congressman “just avoided” Santos-Aviles after the spring of 2024.
“They’re trying to contain all this,” the onetime staffer added of Gonzales’ response to the reports.
Gonzales previously said that the purported fling, which was first reported by the Daily Mail in October, was just “people throwing rocks at me, saying I’m doing nasty things.”
US Rep. Tony Gonzales and Regina Santos-Aviles are pictured with Elon Musk during his Sept. 28, 2023, visit to a migrant processing site in Eagle Pass, Texas. James Keivom
Santos-Aviles poured gasoline over herself and set herself on fire in the backyard of her Uvalde, Texas, home on Sept. 13, 2025. Regina Santos Aviles / Facebook
“In politics, you better have thick skin,” he told local station KSAT this past November. “I totally get that, but the rumors are completely untruthful.”
This past October, Santos-Aviles’ mother claimed to The Post that reports of her daughter’s affair with Gonzales taking place after she split from Aviles were “completely false.”
“I don’t think it has any merit,” she said at the time.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office decided in December to seal 911 calls, police reports and other video of the tragic suicide in response to media requests.
Javier Guerra, a former attorney for Adrian Aviles, has said his client had expressed concern about his late wife’s private records being released.