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‘I WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED’: Republican Accused of Having Affair With Aide Who Killed Herself Speaks Out
Mediaite ^ | February 19, 2026 | Zachary Leeman

Posted on 02/19/2026 12:15:13 PM PST by Miami Rebel

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) declared on Thursday that he “WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED” following a report suggesting an aide committed suicide after an alleged affair with the congressman.

“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,” Gonzales wrote on X.

The congressman included a message from a lawyer offering a non-disclosure agreement and settlement.

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

The San-Antonio Express News first published a recent report in which a former Gonzales staffer claimed that 35-year-old Regina Ann Santos-Aviles suffered depression after her alleged affair with Gonzales was discovered in text messages. She set herself on fire and committed suicide in September 2025.

In an April 2025 text, she acknowledged the affair, according to a screenshot of an alleged message.

“I had [an] affair with our boss and I’m fine,” one screenshot read, according to the New York Post.

“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,” Gonzales, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump in December, told the Post.

Daily Mail and others have also reported on the alleged affair, long before Express News published the staffer’s comments.

Adrian Aviles, the husband of the deceased staffer, told Express News he discovered the alleged affair when he caught his wife texting the congressman in May 2024. The relationship, he said, was “very sexual” based on the messages exchanged.

“I said the truth would come to light when it’s time, and the time is now,” he said. “Tony abused his power. He should have held himself to a higher standard as a congressional leader.”


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: brandonherrera; democratpolitics; dirtypolitics; familyvalues; gonzalez; leftistsource; mediaite; moralmajority; reginasantosaviles; tds; texas; tonygonzales; uvalde; zacharyleeman
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To: Miami Rebel

I know nothing. No seriously, I don’t know anything about this ... Been trying to ignore most news ...


21 posted on 02/19/2026 12:49:29 PM PST by Whatever Works
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To: ConservativeMind
Folks, she set herself on fire at her home, in her garden.

That is way outside the norm for female suicides. Also, immolation deaths not related to some sort of vehicular accident or home fire are extremely rare in general. The ones that do happen in the U.S., at least in recent years, seem to be related to drug gang (and possibly cartel) activity. So, things may not be exactly as reported.

22 posted on 02/19/2026 12:49:33 PM PST by Charles Martel (Progressives are the crab grass in the lawn of life.)
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To: Responsibility2nd

That’s why they actually hold the election ...

I’ve been a youtube subscriber for years; campaign supporter since last time.


23 posted on 02/19/2026 12:50:12 PM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: Responsibility2nd

No ... I state INFORMED opinions.

I’m sure Donny-boy had his “reasons” for endorsing Gonzales. I really don’t care what they are.

“Endorsements” are just some famous (or not-so-famous) person’s opinion. Maybe you need some famous (or not-so-famous) person to tell you how to vote or who to support.

I experience no such need.


24 posted on 02/19/2026 12:53:54 PM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: Miami Rebel

More here:

https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/tony-gonzales-affair-regina-santos-aviles-21357720.php


25 posted on 02/19/2026 12:54:49 PM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: Miami Rebel
"The public should IMMEDIATELY have full access to the Uvalde Police report”

And we all know how competent are the Uvalde police!

26 posted on 02/19/2026 12:56:34 PM PST by montag813
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To: Vaduz

Pick a number between 0 and 100, and it still won’t protect the House majority.


27 posted on 02/19/2026 12:57:14 PM PST by Miami Rebel
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To: Miami Rebel

BLACKMAIL?

First that ‘ Black’ is racist.

Second, Mail is gender phobia

Third, if mail means written documents, that is critical of those who cannot read.

This is all bad: Racist, Antisemite, LGBT++ phobic, etc!!


28 posted on 02/19/2026 12:58:32 PM PST by Scrambler Bob (Running Rampant, and not endorsing nonsense; My pronoun is EXIT. And I am generally full of /S)
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To: Whatever Works
“I know nothing. No seriously, I don't know anything about this ... Been trying to ignore most news.”

Well, whatever works…

29 posted on 02/19/2026 12:58:36 PM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: Charles Martel

She wasn’t growing pot and lit herself instead?


30 posted on 02/19/2026 12:59:53 PM PST by Scrambler Bob (Running Rampant, and not endorsing nonsense; My pronoun is EXIT. And I am generally full of /S)
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To: Charles Martel

“Folks, she set herself on fire at her home, in her garden.”

So .. . you’re saying it was Regina .. . in the Garden .. . with the Gas Can?


31 posted on 02/19/2026 1:04:09 PM PST by Spaceman49
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To: Charles Martel

You can bet your ass that there is a hell ov a lot more to this story that has been reported. And that will be reported.

The way it works now with thing that are or can be political is this: After the deed happens and is reported. The Movers and Shakers meet and brainstorm.

They ask themselves and ask aloud, “Which lie will the Public believe?” And shortly after that they ask, “What lies are the Public stupid enough to believe?” That opens a new can of worms and gives them boo coup of fodder to work with.

That is how they roll now. Believe it or not.


32 posted on 02/19/2026 1:10:04 PM PST by sport
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To: sport

Herrera is the far better choice, I believe.


33 posted on 02/19/2026 1:14:50 PM PST by Theodore R. ( )
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To: NorthMountain
"He should have held himself to a higher standard ..."

I always look at a married man and standards this way. If he will lie to his wife he will lie to you.

34 posted on 02/19/2026 1:21:19 PM PST by mosaicwolf
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To: Miami Rebel; NorthMountain

Brandon Herrera is a MUCH better candidate than Tony Gonzales.


35 posted on 02/19/2026 1:22:38 PM PST by ro_dreaming (Who knew "Idiocracy", "1984", "Enemy of the State", and "Person of Interest" would be non-fiction?)
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To: Theodore R.

I would not argue with you about that. I will go with your assessment. I don’t know of a woman that killed herself because I screwed her.


36 posted on 02/19/2026 1:27:18 PM PST by sport
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To: NorthMountain

How was Trump to know of a secret affair?

Gonzalez is apparently a dirtbag but there’s no way for Trump nor his team to know that unless he told them. They rightfully have no access to his cell phone.


37 posted on 02/19/2026 1:28:18 PM PST by cyclotic (Don’t be part of the problem. Be the entire problem)
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To: mosaicwolf
I always look at a married man and standards this way. If he will lie to his wife he will lie to you.

Goes for women as well ...

A married person's marriage is the most important human relationship in his or her life (only one's relationship with God is more important). A man or woman who treats his or her marriage contemptuously will treat every other relationship with contempt.

38 posted on 02/19/2026 1:31:19 PM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: cyclotic
How was Trump to know of a secret affair?

It has nothing to do with Gonzales screwing the help ... It has everything to do with Tony Gonzales having a really crappy voting record in Congress.

39 posted on 02/19/2026 1:33:30 PM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: ro_dreaming

👍


40 posted on 02/19/2026 1:34:28 PM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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