Lead: Adrian Aviles, husband of late congressional aide Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, told CNN on Feb. 25, 2026 that Rep. Tony Gonzales is a “predator” and accused him of repeated lies as allegations of an affair have resurfaced. Aviles said he released alleged text messages between his late wife and Gonzales; Gonzales has denied an affair, said he is being blackmailed and has refused calls to resign. The allegations have re-emerged in the final days before Gonzales’s primary election next week, and some House Republicans have publicly urged his resignation. Local authorities previously ruled Santos-Aviles’s September death a suicide by self-immolation.
Key Takeaways
- Adrian Aviles publicly accused Rep. Tony Gonzales of predatory behavior during a Feb. 25, 2026 interview and released alleged text messages between Gonzales and his late wife.
- Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, a former staffer in Gonzales’s Uvalde district office, died in September; the county medical examiner listed the manner of death as suicide and the cause as self-immolation.
- An attorney for Aviles told CNN that Santos-Aviles confessed an affair with Gonzales in June 2024 and showed texts to her husband that she said documented it.
- Gonzales denies the affair, says he is being blackmailed, and told CNN on Tuesday he will not resign; the congressman said more facts will emerge in time.
- The controversy has gained traction days before Gonzales’s primary election next week, intensifying calls from some Republican colleagues for his resignation.
- CNN has sought comment from Gonzales’s office; the law-enforcement and evidentiary status of the alleged messages has not been independently verified in public reporting.
Background
Relationships between members of Congress and staffers are subject to heightened scrutiny because of power imbalances and ethics rules that aim to protect employees. In recent years, congressional offices have faced multiple high-profile allegations involving staffers and lawmakers that prompted investigations and, in some cases, resignations. Those precedents shape public expectations about transparency and accountability when new allegations surface.
Regina Ann Santos-Aviles worked in Rep. Gonzales’s district office in Uvalde, Texas. The local community remains sensitive to controversies involving public officials following past events in the region, and any allegation tied to a district office draws both local and national attention. Stakeholders include the congressman’s constituents, House GOP leaders weighing disciplinary or political responses, and the family of the deceased staffer.
Main Event
On Feb. 25, 2026, Adrian Aviles told CNN anchor Erin Burnett that he released text messages he said were between his late wife and Rep. Tony Gonzales. In the interview Aviles said, in emphatic terms, that Gonzales is a “predator” and accused him of repeatedly lying to constituents and the public. Aviles framed his actions as motivated by a desire for truth and accountability rather than partisan gain and said he was concerned for his son’s understanding of standing up to wrongdoing.
Gonzales has denied having an affair with Santos-Aviles and has said he is a target of blackmail. Asked about calls for his resignation, the congressman told CNN he would not step down and that there will be an opportunity for all facts to be presented. Republican colleagues in the House made varying statements; some urged he consider resignation, while others called for due process.
An attorney representing Aviles told CNN last week that Santos-Aviles had confessed an affair with Gonzales in June 2024 and showed texts to her husband that she said documented the relationship. The attorney’s claim is part of the public record of reporting but has not been independently authenticated by law enforcement or third-party forensic review cited in public reporting to date.
Analysis & Implications
Politically, the timing of these allegations—days before a primary—raises the stakes for Gonzales’s campaign. Primary voters often weigh character and trust alongside policy positions; fresh accusations and public releases of alleged private communications can materially affect turnout and endorsements. Even without legal findings, political damage can be swift in a close primary contest.
From an institutional standpoint, House ethics mechanisms and party leadership responses will matter. If formal complaints are filed, ethics or other investigative bodies could open reviews that take weeks or months. That process differs from criminal investigations; ethics reviews focus on workplace conduct and potential violations of House rules, while criminal probes require evidence meeting different standards.
For constituents in the Uvalde district, the controversy may shift attention away from policy agendas to questions about transparency and staff protections. Local voters may demand clearer timelines for independent verification of the messages and for any formal inquiry outcomes. Nationally, the episode highlights continuing concerns about staff-wellbeing and the adequacy of safeguards in congressional offices.
Comparison & Data
| Key Date | Report |
|---|---|
| June 2024 | Attorney says Santos-Aviles confessed affair and showed texts (reported to CNN) |
| September | Santos-Aviles died; county medical examiner ruled cause self-immolation, manner suicide |
| Feb. 24–25, 2026 | Aviles grants CNN interview and releases alleged texts; controversy intensifies ahead of primary |
| Early March 2026 (primary week) | Gonzales faces primary election and public calls for resignation from some Republicans |
The table summarizes the timeline as reported publicly. It is intended to clarify sequence: the attorney’s claim about a June 2024 confession, Santos-Aviles’s September death as recorded by the medical examiner, and the Feb. 2026 interview and message release that reignited public attention ahead of a primary. Available public reporting does not yet confirm forensic authentication of the texts or whether law-enforcement inquiries into message provenance are active.
Reactions & Quotes
Aviles’s interview framed his actions as personal and factual rather than politically motivated; he emphasized family and truth as his reasons for going public.
“You know, the guy’s a predator. He’s continued to lie to the American people, his constituents.”
Adrian Aviles, husband of late staffer (CNN interview)
Gonzales, speaking to CNN, declined to resign and suggested additional facts would emerge over time, positioning himself to contest the allegations as incomplete public reporting.
“There will be an opportunity for all the details and facts to come out. What you’ve seen is not all the facts.”
Rep. Tony Gonzales (CNN)
Other responses from House Republicans were mixed; some publicly called for resignation while others urged patience pending further information. Observers note that public pressure from colleagues can accelerate political consequences, even before formal findings are reached.
Unconfirmed
- The existence and authenticity of the released text messages have not been independently verified in public reporting or by a forensic lab cited in those reports.
- Claims that Gonzales blackmailed or otherwise coerced Santos-Aviles remain allegations; no publicly reported criminal charges connected to those claims have been disclosed.
- Motives behind the public release of the alleged messages—beyond Aviles’s stated reasons—have not been independently assessed.
Bottom Line
The allegation that Rep. Tony Gonzales had an affair with a former staffer and the subsequent public release of alleged texts have elevated a personal tragedy into a political controversy days before a primary election. Key factual touchpoints—Santos-Aviles’s September death and the attorney’s account of a June 2024 confession—are in the public record, but crucial evidentiary questions remain unresolved.
How this unfolds will depend on whether the texts are authenticated, whether formal complaints or investigations are opened, and how voters respond at the ballot box next week. For constituents and policymakers, the episode underscores the need for transparent procedures for handling staff allegations and for timely, impartial fact-finding when serious claims emerge.
Sources
- CNN — U.S. national news organization reporting on the interview, attorney statements and Gonzales’s responses (Feb. 25, 2026).
- KENS (San Antonio affiliate) — Local news outlet cited in national reporting regarding Santos-Aviles’s death and county medical examiner findings.