I WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED': Republican Accused of Having Affair With Aide Who Killed Herself Speaks Out

"I WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED. Disgusting to see people profit politically and financially off a tragic death. The public should IMMEDIATELY have full access to the Uvalde Police report, Gonzales wrote on X. The congressman included a message from a lawyer offering a non-disclosure agreement and settlement. I WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED. Disgusting to see people profit politically and financially off a tragic death. The public should IMMEDIATELY have full access to the Uvalde Police report. I will keep fighting for #TX23 pic.twitter.com/L0OSrUpcWF Tony Gonzales (@TonyGonzales4TX) February 19, 2026"

"The San-Antonio Express News first published a recent report in which a former Gonzales staffer claimed that 35-year-old Regina Ann Santos-Aviles suffered depression after her alleged affair with Gonzales was discovered in text messages. She set herself on fire and committed suicide in September 2025. In an April 2025 text, she acknowledged the affair, according to a screenshot of an alleged message. I had [an] affair with our boss and I'm fine, one screenshot read, according to the New York Post."

"It's shameful that [primary rival] Brandon Herrera is using a disgruntled former staffer to smear her memory and score political points, conveniently pushing this out the very day early voting started, Gonzales, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump in December, told the Post."

Rep. Tony Gonzales publicly denied allegations and wrote “I WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED,” demanding immediate public release of the Uvalde police report after a former aide’s reported suicide. The aide, identified as 35-year-old Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, reportedly set herself on fire and died in September 2025 after depression following discovery of text messages alleging an affair. Gonzales shared a lawyer’s message offering a non-disclosure agreement and settlement and accused a primary rival of exploiting the tragedy. A screenshot allegedly showed the aide acknowledging an affair, and her husband said he discovered sexual messages in May 2024.

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