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Rep. Tony Gonzales, a third-term Republican who represents Texas’ sprawling 23rd Congressional District, is confronting intensifying political and ethical pressure after newly disclosed text messages show him pressing a subordinate for explicit photos and describing sexual acts in late-night exchanges.
The staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, died by suicide in September 2025 after setting herself on fire in Uvalde. The disclosures have triggered renewed scrutiny from a congressional ethics watchdog, fueled public calls for Gonzales to resign, and deepened turmoil inside his political operation days before the March 3 GOP primary.
The messages, first published and authenticated by the San Antonio Express-News, capture a May 9, 2024, conversation beginning at 12:15 a.m. in which Gonzales asks Santos-Aviles to “send me a sexy pic,” persists after she objects, and then pivots to arranging a private meeting. At points, she pushes back, telling him he is going “too far,” yet the exchange continues.
What the Texts Show, and Why the Details Matter
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According to the Express-News, Santos-Aviles initially resists the photo request and later explicitly warns Gonzales that the exchange is crossing a line. Gonzales continues, asking about sexual preferences and proposing a rendezvous.
The paper reports the texts were provided by Santos-Aviles’ widower, Adrian Aviles, and authenticated, with additional messages withheld by the family because of their graphic content and concerns about their child seeing them.
ABC News and CBS News also reviewed and reported on the text messages, describing a pattern of pursuit more than a year before Santos-Aviles’ death.
The Human Tragedy at the Center of the Political Storm
Santos-Aviles served as a regional district director in Uvalde and died the day after the self-immolation, according to reporting that cites incident reports and the medical examiner’s ruling.
Texas Public Radio reported the Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled her death a suicide and found no evidence of foul play.
A separate police report, obtained by The Texas Tribune and referenced by local coverage, records Santos-Aviles telling first responders she set herself on fire because she believed her husband was romantically involved with her best friend.
Ethics Scrutiny: What Congress Can Investigate, and What It Can Punish
The case has landed in the machinery designed to police member conduct. The Express-News reports the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC) sent Aviles a letter in November requesting messages and other communications related to the relationship, and the paper outlines the pathway for possible referral to the House Ethics Committee.
The reporting also highlights a timing constraint: House rules can limit certain ethics actions close to elections, pushing key decisions past the March 3 primary even if investigators have already gathered evidence.
Political Blast Radius: Resignation Calls and Staff Departures
As the revelations spread, Republican colleagues publicly called for Gonzales to resign, and Speaker Mike Johnson described the allegations as serious while urging caution pending investigative steps, according to Axios coverage.
Inside Gonzales’ orbit, fallout has included at least one notable staff departure: Newsweek reported that a 24-year-old former staffer who spoke about the situation resigned in January, saying he could no longer promote Gonzales’ “message and ideals,” citing the Express-News’ reporting.
Gonzales’ Response: “Blackmail” Claim Meets Documentary Evidence
Gonzales has described the controversy as an attempted “blackmail” effort tied to private settlement discussions, according to the Express-News.
Aviles has said he released the texts after interpreting Gonzales’ public posture as implying the evidence was fabricated, and he described the release as an effort to show proof of the relationship and Gonzales’ conduct.
The Election Clock
The scandal detonates at the worst possible moment for an incumbent: Gonzales faces a competitive primary in a district that runs along the U.S.–Mexico border and reaches into San Antonio, with challenger Brandon Herrera again contesting the seat.
Local and national outlets have framed the disclosures as destabilizing for Gonzales’ campaign in the final stretch.
What happens next depends on two timelines moving at once: the voters’ decision on March 3, and the ethics process that may only accelerate after that date.
