1 of 3 | Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, speaks during a press conference in 2021. Gonzales admitted Wednesday night to an affair with a former staffer who later died by suicide. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
March 5 (UPI) — Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, acknowledged having a relationship with a former staffer who later died by suicide after months of denials.
“I made a mistake, and I had a lapse in judgment, and there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions,” he told conservative radio host Joe Pags after he asked about the affair. “Since then, I’ve reconciled with my wife, Angel. I’ve asked God to forgive me, which he has, and my faith is as strong as ever.”
“I had absolutely nothing to do with her tragic passing. And in fact, I was shocked just as much as everyone else,” he told Pags.
Gonzales on Tuesday faced challenger YouTuber Brandon Herrera in a Republican primary for his seat, and neither got more than 50% of the vote. Now, he must begin a 12-week campaign for a runoff vote on May 23. The winner of the runoff will face Democrat Katy Padilla Stout in November.
“2 weeks ago, this man called me a liar because I accused him of committing the heinous acts that he just publicly admitted to doing. Is there anyone left who still trusts this now objectively proven liar?” Herrera said on X.
Gonzales has repeatedly denied the accusations that he engaged in an affair with former staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, 35, who died in 2024 by lighting herself on fire. Santos-Aviles and Gonzales were married to other people at the time.
Text messages between the two reveal Gonzales pressuring her for a “sexy pic” and her responding, “This is going too far boss.”
Gonzales defended himself in the interview with Pags.
“From day one, this has been about power and money,” he said, adding that people have “been attacking me for months on this.”
He added, “At no time was she reprimanded or rewarded in any form or fashion other than anyone else in the office.”
On Wednesday, the House Ethics Committee announced it was launching an investigation into Gonzales’ actions.
“I welcome the opportunity to present all the facts to the committee,” Gonzales said in a statement Wednesday.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., filed a censure resolution against Gonzales, and Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., is supporting her in the effort.
“I hate to be the bad guy, but I think this is fighting for common decency,” Luna said as she filed the censure resolution. She said she had seen new evidence of the alleged affair.
“I will just tell you that there’s a lot there,” Luna said.
Mace was planning to file the censure resolution, but Luna beat her to it.
“I’m on the warpath with her,” Mace said.
Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, has said Gonzales should drop out of the race.
On Wednesday, Mace forced a vote on a resolution to expose lawmakers accused of sexual harassment, The New York Times reported. It would force the Ethics Committee to make allegations of sexual harassment public. But the resolution was kicked back to the committee.
“Both parties colluded today to protect predators,” Mace said.
Luna said it was “disgusting how this institution protects itself. We just had a member of Congress literally sexual harass a woman who then lit herself on fire, and you guys all protected him.”
Gonzales has accused Santos-Aviles’ widower, Adrian Aviles, of trying to blackmail him by asking for a settlement through his lawyer. He said Aviles was “trying to shake me down.”
Aviles’ attorney, Bobby Barrera, told CBS News that the letter he sent was a standard confidential settlement letter and accused Gonzales of “trying to play the victim.”
President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable on the Ratepayer Protection Pledge inside the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House on Wednesday. Technology firms that sign the pledge will commit to ensuring artificial intelligence infrastructure does not raise utility bills for households and small businesses. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
