House opens inquiry into Texas lawmaker over alleged affair with aide
Tony Gonzales claims God has forgiven him for affair with Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, who set herself on fire
www.theguardian.comHere’s the latest I can share based on recent reporting:
- Rep. Tony Gonzales acknowledged having an affair with a former aide who died by suicide, and this acknowledgement prompted a House Ethics Committee review. This marks the first public admission of the affair by Gonzales.[1][4]
- The aide involved was Regina Santos-Aviles; her death occurred in 2025, and contemporaneous reporting notes the affair took place earlier, with messages and investigations emerging in 2026. Gonzales has said he has reconciled with his wife and sought forgiveness, while denying involvement in her death in his public statements.[3][4][1]
- The affair and related texts have led to multiple news updates, investigations, and partisan reactions as Gonzales faced calls to resign or suspend his reelection bid, culminating in his decision not to seek reelection in March 2026 after the admissions. Additional coverage highlights ongoing inquiries into potential misconduct and ethics violations.[4][6]
If you’d like, I can compile a concise timeline and provide direct quotes from the latest articles, with links to each source. I can also summarize how this situation has evolved in terms of ethics investigations and political implications.
Citations:
- Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales acknowledges affair and ethics inquiry.[1]
- Details on the aide and death, and the admission in March 2026.[4][1]
- Follow-up reports on ethics review outcomes and election impact.[6]