Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas is facing growing calls to resign after some disturbing, sexually-suggestive text messages with a former aide came to light.
The staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, killed herself by setting herself on fire several months ago. Police ruled it a suicide with no signs of foul play.
Now, according to just-released text messages obtained from Regina’s phone, it’s been revealed that she allegedly had an affair with Rep. Gonzales around a year before her suicide.
Several of the messages in their text exchange from 2024 show Rep. Gonzales pressuring her for “sexy pics” and asking her highly-inappropriate questions.
Multiple times, Regina told her boss that he was going “too far.”
See for yourself:
🚨 BREAKING: Republicans in Congress are beginning to call for @RepTonyGonzales to RESIGN after messages were released of him pushing a female staffer for “sexy pics” and her “favorite position” before she allegedly kiIIed herself
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 23, 2026
TWICE she told Gonzales he was going too far,… pic.twitter.com/dMBL5SkTru
BREAKING: Republicans in Congress are beginning to call for @RepTonyGonzales
to RESIGN after messages were released of him pushing a female staffer for “sexy pics” and her “favorite position” before she allegedly kiIIed herselfTWICE she told Gonzales he was going too far, but he kept pushing anyway
This dude’s a total creep.
The people of Texas’ 23rd district need a send a message and OVERWHELMINGLY vote for Brandon Herrera, @TheAKGuy.
Fire Gonzales.
Here are more texts between Rep. Gonzales and his now-deceased aide:
The texts indicate multiple staffers in the office knew about the alleged affair. pic.twitter.com/HvbBtcniqs
— Juliegrace Brufke (@juliegraceb) February 23, 2026
The texts also indicate Gonzales sought explicit photos from his former staffer, which she pushed back on. pic.twitter.com/PJ976i3yKh
— Juliegrace Brufke (@juliegraceb) February 23, 2026
The texts also she questioned whether he hired her because he found she attractive and indicate he asked her about sexual preferences in which she replies “This is going too far boss.” pic.twitter.com/EwSTtMXxJ6
— Juliegrace Brufke (@juliegraceb) February 23, 2026
In the texts, the late staffer also questions whether Gonzales was intoxicated while asking her for images and sexual content. pic.twitter.com/B3kP1KVwyH
— Juliegrace Brufke (@juliegraceb) February 23, 2026
In case those are hard to see, here’s a closer look at all the text messages:
What a creep!
Both Rep. Gonzales and Regina Ann Santos-Aviles were married.
Regina’s husband, Adrian Aviles, spoke to San Antonio Express-News about how he found out about the alleged affair:
In an interview with the San Antonio Express-News, he said Gonzales “abused his power” by becoming romantically involved with Regina Ann “Regi” Santos-Aviles, who worked in the Republican congressman’s Uvalde office.
“I said the truth would come to light when it’s time, and the time is now,” Aviles said via Zoom from his lawyer’s office in San Antonio. “Tony abused his power. He should have held himself to a higher standard as a congressional leader.”
Aviles said he doesn’t want an apology.
“I hope that Tony will stand up and be accountable for his actions,” he said.
Aviles, 40, spoke the day after the San Antonio Express-News reported that a text message shared by a former Gonzales staffer showed that Santos-Aviles acknowledged having an affair with the married congressman. The text was from a phone number that the paper verified was Santos-Aviles’. It was part of a thread from April 27, 2025. In the message, she wrote, “I had (sic) affair with our boss.”
Santos-Aviles, 35, was Gonzales’ regional district director. She and her husband had an 8-year-old son.
On Sept. 13, 2025, authorities said Santos-Aviles poured gasoline on herself outside her home in Uvalde and was engulfed in flames. She died the next day at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
In November, the Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled her death a suicide by self-immolation. Police said home surveillance video showed she was alone when the fire started and that there was no evidence of foul play.
Rightfully so, many Republicans are now calling for Rep. Gonzales to step down.
Rep. Lauren Boebert got straight to the point:
.@RepTonyGonzales, RESIGN! https://t.co/sOjPAt0CWS
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) February 23, 2026
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna also called Rep. Gonzales out:
The entire Texas delegation, as well as every single other Member of Congress, should be condemning a sitting Member of Congress asking for explicit photos of their staff. As a woman, this is really disgusting to see. Not to mention, it brings dishonor on the House of…
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) February 23, 2026
The entire Texas delegation, as well as every single other Member of Congress, should be condemning a sitting Member of Congress asking for explicit photos of their staff. As a woman, this is really disgusting to see. Not to mention, it brings dishonor on the House of Representatives. I am so sick of people not calling this crap out. Again, like I’ve said before, this is not the only case of this crap up here. @RepTonyGonzales, shame on you.
Rep. Gonzales is already facing a tough primary next month.
His primary opponent, Brandon Herrera, is calling for him to resign in light of the new revelations:
I have now seen some of the text messages between Tony Gonzales and his late aide, Regina Santos-Aviles.
— Brandon Herrera (@TheAKGuy) February 22, 2026
It is now clear to me Tony Gonzales is a sexual predator, who abused his position of power and wrecked a family.
I also now know this is not the only case.
He must resign. pic.twitter.com/H5wfdjl6pH
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson says he advised Rep. Gonzales to address the allegations, but called it “too early” to judge the situation.
The Hill shared his remarks:
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday said Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) must address the allegations that he had an affair with one of his congressional staffers, who died last year after setting herself on fire, but added that it is “too early to prejudge” the situation.
“I endorsed Tony before all these allegations came out,” Johnson said in the Capitol when asked by an NBC News reporter if he still supports Gonzales, adding that the allegations are “very serious.”
Johnson said he had spoken with Gonzales and told him to “address that in an appropriate way with his constituents and all of that.”
“It’s too early for anybody to prejudge any of that, but we’ll see how it develops,” Johnson said.
Gonzales has said the allegations are “personal smears” being used by his primary opponent to “score political points”
For his part, Rep. Tony Gonzales is refusing to own up to it, calling it an instance of blackmail:
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 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/L0OSrUpcWF
— Tony Gonzales (@TonyGonzales4TX) February 19, 2026
Rep. Gonzales also called it a “political attack,” which Santos-Aviles’ husband Adrian blasted as a complete lie.
Adrian Aviles also wants President Trump to pull his endorsement of Gonzales.
From The New York Post:
Reps for Gonzales’ campaign and congressional office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lawmaker is seeking a fourth House term and faces a closely contested primary March 3
“During my six years in Congress not a single formal complaint has been levied against my office. Now days away from an election, coordinated political attacks reign [sic] in. IT WONT WORK,” Gonzales posted Sunday on X.
“Half way through early voting and the intensity resides w/ TG voters. I’d rather be us than them.”
Aviles responded to the post, “I don’t think anyone rather be you.. You’re a home wrecking perverted sick man Tony. Zero remorse, zero accountability just denial, deflection, lies, and playing the victim.”
“This isn’t ‘coordinated political attacks’ this is exposing the real Tony Gonzales, this is tragedy you helped create, and you refuse to own it,” Aviles continued. “I’m sure others stayed silent in fear of your power, but I fear no man but God. My 8 yr old son will grow up knowing what a real man of honor looks like.”
“I’m exposing your disgust as my duty to him, and in memory of Regina, who deserved better than your abuse of power. You don’t deserve the responsibility of being a congressman or a leader. Texans deserve a leader with integrity, not a coward.”
Aviles also called on President Trump to withdraw his December endorsement of Gonzales for re-election.
What a disgusting scandal.
Your thoughts?
Do you think Rep. Gonzales should resign?
If he doesn’t, should President Trump pull his endorsement and give it to Brandon Herrera instead?
