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.”
He needs to talk to Joe Scarborough about this.
I always look at a married man and standards this way. If he will lie to his wife he will lie to you.
Question: Is Donald Trump the exception, or the rule?
Many Many decades ago, I met a congressman from Illinois at a party at Democrat National Convention, where I was working as a UPI photographer’s assistant, getting names of people he “shot”. (Very famous guy, JFK’s fave photographer, did a whole book about the Kennedy family.)
Young and naive, I wasn’t quite aware that the congresscrit was coming on to me. Even invited me to D.C. to “see congress at work”.
This unfortunate girl did have the affair, and as I stated above, a lot of congressmen do or try to do that. I can’t imagine why she ended her life over one of those bums.
How was Trump to know of a secret affair?
___________________
Trump endorsed Tony just 2 months ago. Long after Gonzalez admitted he had an affair with his aide.
It was no secret.
Self-immolation would not make to a short list of ways to go.
Republicans used to believe that.
Has Joe Scarborough weighed in on this yet?
I misunderstood it to be an older endorsement.
Her mother doesn’t think there was an affair…
I hope Herrera kicks Gonzalez’s this time, he nearly did last time despite being waaay outspent. Gonzalez is a POS who pussies out of every debate with Herrera.
at this point their endorsement should be the kiss of death for any campaign
Tony has always maintained there was no affair, Responsibility2nd.
“I did not have sex with that women, Monica Lewinsky...”
I think that of married women, too.
Exactly.
And Joe Scarborough is as free as a bird.
So much for the justice system it’s who you know if your a democrat.
If they are a democrat free swim lessons by Ted Kennedy.
50 or 60 of the USBs under har cash boxes to many to move to get to them.
any chance it was murder? Presence of drugs? Someone bought the acceleraant?
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