{"id":176828,"date":"2026-02-23T19:16:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T19:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/176828\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T19:16:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T19:16:11","slug":"tony-gonzales-primary-rival-calls-him-sexual-predator-after-text-messages-come-to-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/176828\/","title":{"rendered":"Tony Gonzales’ primary rival calls him ‘sexual predator’ after text messages come to light"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"U.S.U.S. Tony Gonzales (left) faces a primary challenge from Brandon Herrera, a YouTube influencer who\u2019s never held office before. Credit: Courtesy Photos<\/p>\n

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales\u2019 top Republican primary rival blasted him as a \u201csexual predator\u201d over the weekend and ramped up calls for the South Texas congressman\u2019s resignation in light of new text messages related to his alleged affair.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have now seen some of the text messages between Tony Gonzales and his late aide, Regina Santos-Aviles,\u201d candidate Brandon Herrera, a YouTube influencer known to fans as the \u201cAK Guy,\u201d tweeted Sunday. \u201cIt is now clear to me Tony Gonzales is a sexual predator, who abused his position of power and wrecked a family. I also know this is not the only case. He must resign.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gonzales is locked in a competitive primary to represent Texas\u2019 23rd Congressional district, which stretches from San Antonio to El Paso. The Trump-backed congressman narrowly beat<\/a> Herrera, a politically inexperienced online gun influencer, when two faced off in the 2024 GOP primary. <\/p>\n

I have now seen some of the text messages between Tony Gonzales and his late aide, Regina Santos-Aviles.<\/p>\n

It is now clear to me Tony Gonzales is a sexual predator, who abused his position of power and wrecked a family. <\/p>\n

I also now know this is not the only case.<\/p>\n

He must resign. pic.twitter.com\/H5wfdjl6pH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Brandon Herrera (@TheAKGuy) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Herrera\u2019s tweet may reference text messages reported on by the Express-News<\/a> that allegedly show Gonzales, a married father of six, urged Santos-Avile \u2014 then his Uvalde regional district office director \u2014\u00a0to share her favorite sexual position and send risqu\u00e9 photos.<\/p>\n

\u201cSend me a sexy pic,\u201d Gonzales wrote around midnight May 9, 2024, the daily reports. <\/p>\n

Santos-Aviles pushed back against the Congressman, texting that she\u2019d had a long week, according the Express-News. \u201cYou don\u2019t really want a hot picture of me,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

\u201cYes I do,\u201d Gonzales reportedly responded. \u201cHurry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Herrera\u2019s tweet and the Express-News article, which ran Monday, are the latest twists in the story about Santos-Aviles, who took her own life in September <\/a>by setting herself on fire, according to the Bexar County Medical Examiner\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n

Bobby Barrera, an attorney representing Santos-Aviles\u2019 husband, told the daily that his client\u2019s discovery of the alleged affair, combined with Santos-Aviles being ostracized by the congressman\u2019s office, led to her emotional decline and suicide.<\/p>\n

However, a separate Monday report<\/a> by the Express-News further complicates the matter. That article asserts that Santos-Aviles told first responders who found her after she\u2019d set herself ablaze that she\u2019d done so because she discovered her then-estranged husband was romantically involved with her best friend.<\/p>\n

On Friday, Punchbowl News reported<\/a> that the Office of Congressional Conduct last November opened an ethics investigation into Gonzales\u2019s purported affair.<\/p>\n

The U.S. House\u2019s Code of Conduct states a member \u201cmay not engage in a sexual relationship with any employee of the House who works under the supervision of the member.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Rep.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe South Texas congressman posted a screenshot from a message sent by an attorney for his late staffer\u2019s husband in which the attorney asks for a financial settlement. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\u2018AK\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Express-News withdrew its endorsement of Gonzales but also declined to support Herrera, whose controversial past remarks have drawn scrutiny. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Texas\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tRegina Santos-Aviles committed suicide by setting herself on fire in September at her Uvalde home, police say. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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