HOUSTON (AP) — U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzalez of Texas claimed Thursday that he was being “blackmailed” over reports that he had an affair with a former staffer who later set himself on fire and died.
The allegation from the married Republican congressman came after the San Antonio Express-News reported that it had received text messages from former staffer Regina Ann Santos-Aviles to colleagues saying she had an affair with the congressman.
The Associated Press has not independently obtained copies of those messages. On Thursday, a lawyer for Santos-Avilez’s husband, Adrian Aviles, said he discovered the incident before his wife’s death.
Spokesmen and attorneys for Gonzalez, who is up for re-election in the Texas primary on March 3, did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. On social media, the congressman posted partial screenshots of emails from her husband’s lawyer and accused him of seeking money.
“I will not be blackmailed,” Gonzalez wrote in a post on social media site X on Thursday. “It’s disgusting to see people profiting politically and financially from tragic deaths.”
In emails released by Gonzalez, attorney Robert Barrera discussed potential lawsuits against the congressman and a possible settlement through a nondisclosure agreement. The email said the maximum amount recoverable was $300,000.
Barrera denied that he tried to extort Gonzalez.
“This is a desperate attempt to make him look like a political victim again,” Barrera told The Associated Press in a phone interview Thursday. “There’s no blackmail here. I mean, it’s just ridiculous accusations.”
Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, 35, died in September 2025 after setting herself on fire in the backyard of her Uvalde home. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office later ruled her death a suicide by self-immolation.
Gonzalez, whose district stretches from San Antonio to El Paso and along the U.S.-Mexico border, and he and his wife have six children
According to Barrera, the email Gonzalez posted online was part of a back-and-forth discussion he had with the congressman’s attorney, following Aviles’ decision to pursue a potential lawsuit on behalf of his wife to recover damages under the Congressional Accountability Act.
This bill provides legislative protections for employees of the legislative branch from harassment, discrimination, or retaliation.
Barrera alleges that after discovering the alleged affair, Gonzalez retaliated against Santos-Aviles by significantly limiting her job responsibilities and privileges and limiting her job promotions.
Gonzalez has the backing of President Donald Trump and faces a primary challenge from Brandon Herrera, who narrowly lost to Gonzalez in 2024. Herrera called for Gonzalez to resign after the report was released.
In a statement to The Texas Tribune this week, Gonzalez called Santos-Avilez “a kind soul who has dedicated her life to making her community a better place.” He went on to say that he would not “participate in these personal smears and will instead remain focused on helping President Trump secure the border and improve the lives of all Texans.”
Barrera said his client wants lawmakers to acknowledge the alleged incidents.
“There’s nothing political here. There’s no call for him to resign. It’s up to the voters of this district whether they want someone like Tony Gonzalez to lead them into the future,” Barrera said.
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Editor’s Note – In the United States, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached by dialing or texting 988. Online chat is also available through 988lifeline.org.
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Follow Juan A. Lozano: https://x.com/juanlozano70
