WASHINGTON — An independent congressional ethics watchdog is investigating Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) over an alleged affair with one of his aides who fatally set herself on fire this past September.
The Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC) launched the probe last year against the Texas Republican, according to the late aide’s widower, Adrian Aviles, and his lawyer Bobby Barrera.
House rules prohibit sexual relationships between members and staffers.
Aviles, who was married to Gonzales’ regional director, Regina Santos-Aviles, received a written notice from OCC in November 2025 that an investigation was underway.
Typically, the OCC launches investigations into alleged misconduct by members of Congress that it can eventually refer to the House Ethics Committee.
That panel may then impose punishments — such as fines or sanctions — at the conclusion of an investigation.
The OCC can only refer findings to the House Ethics Committee within 60 days of an election, meaning the probe will have no direct effect on Gonzales’ March 3 primary.
A spokesperson for the House Ethics Committee declined to comment.
Santos-Aviles, 35, died on Sept. 14, 2025, from injuries sustained the day before when she doused herself in gasoline that was later ignited.
Her husband, his attorney and a former Gonzales staffer have all said the congressman, a married father of six children, engaged in an extramarital affair with Santos-Aviles in May 2024.
Gonzales accused Aviles and Barrera on Thursday of seeking to “blackmail” him over the allegations.
Adrian Aviles told The Post that same day he learned of his wife’s infidelity by reading sexually suggestive text messages between her and Gonzales on May 31, 2024.
When Aviles confronted Gonzales, the lawmaker only replied: “Take care of your family,” the bereaved husband claimed.
After the affair was discovered, Gonzales cut off contact with Santos-Aviles while she still worked for him in his Uvalde district office, the ex-staffer said.
“He lives his life as if nothing happened. He has no remorse,” fumed Aviles, adding that neither Gonzales or his congressional office ever reached out after his late wife’s passing, “never sent flowers” and the congressman wasn’t “welcome” at her funeral.
“Regina was not pregnant,” Aviles said Thursday of his former spouse. “She was a completely stable … mentally sane person before all of this.”
Barrera said the 3,500 texts between Santos-Aviles and Gonzales — which he and Aviles have pledged to release imminently — include several that “clearly indicate something more than a non-professional relationship” and a handful that amount to requests for “nudey pics.”
Aviles and Santos-Aviles separated in August 2024 after attending marriage counseling for several months, but continued to care together for their eight-year-old son, the attorney noted.
Uvalde authorities ruled Santos-Aviles’ death a suicide, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office sealed footage of the tragedy, 911 dispatch calls and police reports related to the incident.
Aviles confirmed Thursday that he made the request to keep the information from the public because his son “doesn’t need to get on YouTube and be able to see this in five years.”
He and Barrera filed a separate claim under the Congressional Accountability Act seeking up to $300,000 in damages related to Gonzales’ alleged sexual harassment and workplace retaliation against Santos-Aviles.
In exchange, the husband would sign a non-disclosure agreement related to the purported trysts with his late wife.
“I WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED. Disgusting to see people profit politically and financially off a tragic death,” the House Republican posted on X. “The public should IMMEDIATELY have full access to the Uvalde Police report.”
The congressman also shared a screenshot from an email Barrera sent Gonzales’ attorney related to the Congressional Accountability Act claim.
“Tony left out the part that he didn’t want people to read,” Barrera said of the message. “We downloaded Regina’s phone and it is replete with communications — including dates, locations and pictures — of a sexual nature. He conveniently left that out.”
Aviles has denied that either his going public with the allegations against Gonzales or seeking a settlement with the Texas rep’s office was done for political reasons.
A three-term lawmaker, Gonzales is being challenged in the primary by Brandon Herrara, a popular YouTuber and firearms enthusiast, former Rep. Quico Canseco, and construction executive Keith Barton.
