Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales Defies Resignation Calls Amid Staffer Affair Scandal
Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales has defiantly rejected calls for his resignation as explosive details continue to emerge about his alleged affair with a staffer who tragically died by suicide. The Texas lawmaker faces mounting pressure from colleagues and a primary challenger following revelations of explicit text messages and office misconduct.
Explicit Messages and Office Knowledge
According to multiple reports, Gonzales allegedly exchanged inappropriate text messages with staffer Regina Santos-Aviles in 2024 while both were married. In one May 2024 exchange shared with CBS News, Gonzales reportedly asked Santos-Aviles for a "sexy pic," to which she responded that she didn't enjoy taking photographs of herself. "I'm just such a visual person," Gonzales allegedly replied. "Sorry."
In another disturbing exchange, the congressman reportedly asked about Santos-Aviles' "favorite position" and answered the question himself when she deflected. "This is going too far boss," Santos-Aviles responded at one point, later adding, "This is too far, Tony."
A former Gonzales staffer told The San Antonio Express-News that the affair was known to several people in the office, and that he had informed the district director about his concerns for Santos-Aviles' well-being. After her death, the staffer resigned and switched to working on Democratic campaigns, stating he could no longer "sell" Gonzales's message.
Tragic Outcome and Political Fallout
Santos-Aviles, a mother who worked on community improvement projects, died at Brooke Army Medical Center in the early hours of September 14, 2025, after setting herself on fire in an apparent suicide attempt the previous day. The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the circumstances, while the Uvalde Police Department found no suggestion of foul play.
The former staffer told the Express-News that Santos-Aviles' mental state deteriorated after her husband discovered the alleged affair and informed district staffers about it. Bobby Barrera, attorney representing Santos-Aviles' widower, confirmed the affair was "common knowledge" in Gonzales's office but declined to speculate about its role in her suicide.
Republican Colleagues Demand Resignation
Several Republican colleagues have called for Gonzales to step down immediately. Representative Nancy Mace described the text messages as "disgusting and inexcusable," noting: "A Member of Congress. Harassing his own staffer in the middle of the night. Asking for explicit photos. Pressing her on sexual positions."
Mace has since filed a resolution to release reports from investigations into sexual harassment violations by members of Congress. Representative Lauren Boebert was more direct, posting "RESIGN!" in response to images of the alleged text messages.
House Speaker Mike Johnson described the scandal as "detestable" during an interview on CBS Evening News, noting that the Office of Congressional Conduct has been investigating the matter. "My understanding is he's denied a lot of this, and we're trying to sort it out," Johnson said. "What we do here is we allow all the facts to play out."
Gonzales' Defiance and Primary Challenge
Despite the mounting pressure, Gonzales remains defiant. "I'm not gonna resign. I work every day for the people of Texas," he told CNN on Tuesday. "There will be an opportunity for all the details and facts to come out. What you've seen is not all the facts."
In a fiery statement, Gonzales accused his Republican primary challenger, Brandon Herrera, of trying to "smear" Santos-Aviles' memory for political gain. "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," he wrote.
Gonzales faces a tight primary challenge on March 3 against Herrera, a gun rights influencer who nearly defeated him in 2024. Herrera has joined calls for resignation, describing the alleged messages as "disgusting" and calling Gonzales "an irredeemable coward" who "dodges accountability and lies to the people."
Widower Denies Blackmail Allegations
Adrian Aviles, widower of the late staffer, has denied any attempt to blackmail Gonzales. "We have never blackmailed anyone," he wrote on social media. "What we've seen instead is a consistent pattern of evasion, refusal to take accountability, and outright lies to protect your image."
The scandal continues to unfold as Gonzales prepares for his primary election, with the congressman vowing to remain focused on "helping President Trump secure the border and improve the lives of all Texans" despite the personal and political turmoil.
