{"id":2571423,"date":"2026-02-19T12:09:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T17:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/husband-of-tony-gonzaless-staffer-who-died-by-suicide-calls-for-accountability\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T12:12:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T17:12:01","slug":"husband-of-tony-gonzaless-staffer-who-died-by-suicide-calls-for-accountability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/husband-of-tony-gonzaless-staffer-who-died-by-suicide-calls-for-accountability\/","title":{"rendered":"Husband of Tony Gonzales&#8217;s staffer who died by suicide calls for accountability"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhusband-of-tony-gonzaless-staffer-who-died-by-suicide-calls-for-accountability%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2571423&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Adrian Aviles, husband of Regina Santos-Aviles\u2014the congressman\u2019s former district director who died after setting herself on fire\u2014claims she had an affair with Rep. Tony Gonzales. Aviles disclosed the affair in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dem-ag-candidate-reportedly-said-hed-put-2-bullets-in-gop-state-reps-head-piss-on-his-grave\/\" title=\"Dem AG Candidate ...ortedly Said He&#039;d Put 2 Bullets In GOP State ...&#039;s Head, &#039;Piss On&#039; His Grave\">citing text messages<\/a> as evidence, and said Gonzales denied the relationship. He learned of the affair in 2024, after which the couple split; he believes his wife\u2019s death was a cry for help, not intentional acts. The allegations add pressure on Gonzales, who faces a primary challenger, Brandon Herrera, urging him to resign and be accountable for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-pick-sean-duffy-paid-ritz-tabs-with-campaign-cash-records-show\/\" title=\"Trump pick Sean Duffy paid Ritz tabs with campaign cash, records show\">alleged ethics issues<\/a>. Gonzales has resisted the affair claims, focusing on his campaign and policy priorities, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tough-on-crime-trump-endorses-texas-gov-greg-abbott-calls-him-a-fighter\/\" title=\"\u2018Tough On Crime\u2019: Trump Endorses Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Calls Him A \u2018Fighter\u2019\">including border security<\/a>. The piece also includes related political notes and endorsements from other races.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Husband of Tony Gonzales staffer who died by suicide calls on Republican to take accountability<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2509298\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The husband of the woman Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tony-gonzales\/\">Tony Gonzales<\/a> (R-TX) is accused of having an affair with, and who died after setting herself on fire, is calling on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\">Texas<\/a> Republican to take accountability.<\/p>\n<p>Adrian Aviles, widower of Regina Santos-Aviles, confirmed the affair between his estranged wife and Gonzales during an interview with the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expressnews.com\/news\/article\/tony-gonzales-santos-aviles-affair-husband-21360950.php\"><em>San Antonio Express-News<\/em><\/a>. The outlet had previously published a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expressnews.com\/news\/article\/tony-gonzales-affair-regina-santos-aviles-21357720.php\">text message<\/a>, shared by a former Gonzales staffer, in which Santos-Aviles acknowledged the affair.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4462422\/pritzker-2028-test-juliana-stratton-illinois-senate-race\/\">Pritzker faces 2028 test in boosting Juliana Stratton in &lsquo;boring&rsquo; Illinois Senate race<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4460244\/electricity-prices-energy-midterms\/\">Rising electricity prices key to midterm elections but no immediate fix ready<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/travel\/4460797\/dhs-shutdown-tsa-airport-delays\/\">Travel industry warns of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >rising airport strain amid partial shutdown&#038;nbsp<\/a>;&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I said the truth would come to light when it&rsquo;s time, and the time is now,&rdquo; Aviles told the <em>San Antonio Express-News<\/em>. &ldquo;Tony abused his power. He should have held himself to a higher standard as a congressional leader.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I hope that Tony will stand up and be accountable for his actions,&rdquo; Aviles&nbsp;said.<\/p>\n<p>Gonzales has continued to deny the affair, despite the surfaced text involving the representative&rsquo;s subordinate.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, authorities said&nbsp;Santos-Aviles poured gasoline on herself outside her home and set herself on fire, where she later died the next day at a hospital in San Antonio. Police ruled the death a suicide. The 35-year-old was the congressman&rsquo;s regional district director.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking for the first time about his wife, Aviles said he wants their son to know he tried to protect her reputation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I would feel like my son, when he gets older, I want him to know that I made an attempt to clear his mother&rsquo;s name,&rdquo; he said. <\/p>\n<p>In the Zoom interview, Aviles said he &ldquo;couldn&rsquo;t bear to sit by&rdquo; while Gonzales denied the affair and let him &ldquo;lie on my wife&rsquo;s name.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Aviles said he learned of the affair in 2024 when he saw his wife texting Gonzales, adding the texts were &ldquo;very sexual in nature&rdquo; and that the congressman requested Santos-Aviles to send him photos of her. He said the two had been romantically involved for a few weeks at that point. <\/p>\n<p>After his discovery, Aviles said the two tried to repair their marriage before ultimately splitting a few months later, after he said&nbsp;he texted both Gonzales and members of his staff that he knew of the affair and wanted to make it public.<\/p>\n<p>Aviles said the office then gave his wife a month off and tried to push her out. He went on to say that after all of it unfolded, his wife started &ldquo;spiraling,&rdquo; as she continued to express that she &ldquo;wanted her family back.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think that it was an intentional act,&rdquo; Aviles said of his wife&rsquo;s death. &ldquo;I think it was a cry for help. It was a cry for help that turned into a tragedy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Gonzales has been under scrutiny in recent months after the affair surfaced from the tragic death of Santos-Aviles.&nbsp;He is facing a tough primary challenger, Brandon Herrera, as early voting is open in Texas for the primary on March 3. Herrera has called on Gonzales to resign after the <em>San Antonio Express-News<\/em> reported confirmation of the affair.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Tony Gonzales must resign,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/brandonherreraforcongress.com\/news\/press-releases\/brandon-herrera-responds-to-gonzales-affair-confirmation-resign\/\">Herrera wrote<\/a>. &ldquo;He not only broke House ethics rules by having an adulterous affair with a member of his congressional staff and by using taxpayer money to fund the affair, but he also broke trust with the public by insisting that the initial reporting of the affair was false.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4462259\/angela-alsobrooks-first-senator-endorse-jasmine-crockett-texas-senate\/\">ANGELA ALSOBROOKS BECOMES FIRST SENATOR TO ENDORSE JASMINE CROCKETT IN TEXAS SENATE RACE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Gonzales has tried to remedy the situation by denying the affair and putting the focus back on his campaign, as election day is less than two weeks away.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Ms. Santos-Aviles was a kind soul who devoted her life to making the community a better place,&rdquo; Gonzales said in a statement Wednesday. &ldquo;Her efforts led to improvements in school safety, healthcare, and rural water like never before. It&rsquo;s shameful that Brandon Herrera is using a disgruntled former staffer to smear her memory and score political points, conveniently pushing this out the very <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-is-the-fcc-equal-time-rule-at-center-of-talarico-interview\/\" title=\"What is the FCC equal time rule at center of Talarico ...?\">day early voting started<\/a>. I am not going to engage in these personal smears and instead will remain focused on helping President Trump secure the border and improve the lives of all Texans.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Widower of Gonzales staffer who died asks accountability<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3691,"featured_media":2571424,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ap22195772880923-e1771518726164.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[8049,6566,74120],"class_list":["post-2571423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-accountability","tag-staffer","tag-tony-gonzales-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ap22195772880923-e1771518726164.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571423","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3691"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2571423"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571423\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2571427,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571423\/revisions\/2571427"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2571424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2571423"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2571423"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2571423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}