Texas Congressman Faces Explosive Allegations Amid Primary Election
Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas has ignited a political firestorm by claiming he is being "blackmailed" over the tragic death of a former staff member with whom he allegedly had an affair. The congressman made the explosive accusation on social media this Thursday, posting what he described as evidence of extortion attempts.
Blackmail Claim Called "Last Act of Desperation"
In a scathing response, attorney Robert Barrera, who represents the family of the deceased staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, dismissed Gonzales' allegations as "a last act of desperation of a politician who's going down the toilet." Barrera made these comments during an exclusive interview with HuffPost, revealing deeper layers to this developing scandal.
The controversy centers around a $300,000 settlement proposal that Barrera sent to Gonzales on February 10th. According to the attorney, this offer represented a private resolution alternative to filing a formal claim under the Congressional Accountability Act, legislation strengthened during the Me Too era to protect legislative branch employees from sexual harassment and retaliation.
Tragic Backstory and Alleged Affair
Regina Santos-Aviles worked in Gonzales' district office in Uvalde until her death in September. The staffer died after setting herself on fire, a tragedy that has taken on new dimensions with recent revelations about her relationship with the congressman. Barrera represents Adrian Aviles, Santos-Aviles' husband, who confirmed to the San Antonio Express-News that he and his wife had separated last year after he discovered her infidelity.
"I WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED," Gonzales declared in his social media post, adding, "Disgusting to see people profit politically and financially off a tragic death. The public should IMMEDIATELY have full access to the Uvalde Police report."
Family's Response and Emotional Plea
Adrian Aviles responded with anguish to Gonzales' demand for police report transparency. "We chose to hold back the full police report and body cam footage for one reason only: it shows my wife suffering severe burns in horrific detail," Aviles explained. "I will not allow that graphic material to become accessible to our 8-year-old son in the future when he is old enough to search for or come across it."
Barrera elaborated on the family's perspective, stating, "I'm just shocked that he is playing the victim, that somehow we're the bad guy when he had an affair with a staffer subordinate, and which ultimately led to her emotional demise and death, and he's the victim here." The attorney emphasized that his client simply wanted Gonzales to "man up and accept responsibility for his conduct."
Political Timing and Denials
The scandal broke at a politically sensitive moment, coinciding with the start of early voting in the Republican primary election. Gonzales faces a challenging reelection bid against Brandon Herrera, a gun-enthusiast YouTuber who nearly defeated him in the 2024 primary.
Despite mounting evidence, including text message screenshots obtained by the San Antonio Express-News in which Santos-Aviles described their romantic relationship, Gonzales continues to deny any affair occurred. Barrera contends that Gonzales not only had the relationship but also "stymied her career after word started getting around about the relationship last year."
The attorney revealed that the affair only became public this week because another former Gonzales staffer spoke to the press, despite efforts to keep the matter private. As this story continues to develop, it raises serious questions about accountability, transparency, and ethical conduct within congressional offices.
