The husband of the woman Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) is accused of having an affair with released texts showing the congressman sending explicit messages to his wife, who later died after setting herself on fire.
Adrian Aviles, the widower of Regina Santos-Aviles, released texts that he claims are between the Texas Republican and his estranged wife on Monday. The screenshots, obtained by the Washington Examiner, show Santos-Aviles messaging with a number saved as “TG,” Gonzales’s initials, that appear to show the congressman pressing Santos-Aviles to send sexual pictures.
According to the screenshots, Gonzales texted Santos-Aviles in May 2024 to “send me a sexy pic,” to which she responded, “you don’t really want a hot picture of me.”
Gonzales continued to press for pictures after her original denial.
Text messages allegedly between Santos-Aviles and Gonzales. 
Text messages allegedly between Santos-Aviles and Gonzales. 
Text messages allegedly between Santos-Aviles and Gonzales. 
Text messages allegedly between Santos-Aviles and Gonzales. 
Text messages allegedly between Santos-Aviles and Gonzales. 
Text messages allegedly between Santos-Aviles and Gonzales. 
Text messages allegedly between Santos-Aviles and Gonzales. 
Text messages allegedly between Santos-Aviles and Gonzales.
He later resumed the conversation by asking, “Favorite position?”
“Yours first?” Santos-Aviles replies.
“on top pinning your legs,” Gonzales writes.
“This is too far, Tony,” she says again.
At one point in the exchange, Santos-Aviles asked Gonzales if he only hired her because she was “hot.”
They then planned to arrange a time to meet up, according to other texts reported by the San Antonio Express-News.
A final message shared by Aviles on June 1, 2024, shows him messaging Gonzales, Santos-Aviles, and other staffers of the congressman to reveal the affair.
After his discovery, Aviles said the two tried to repair their marriage before ultimately splitting a few months later, after he said he texted both Gonzales and members of his staff that he knew of the affair and wanted to make it public.
“Just a heads up this is Adrian Aviles, Reginas soon to be ex husband I just wanted to inform all of you that we will be getting a divorced after my discovery of text messages and pictires, that she’s been having an affair on me with your boss Tony Gonzales for some time now,” his text reads. “Feel free to reach out if you want more of an explanation.”
The release of texts comes after Aviles confirmed the affair in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News, where he called on Gonzales to take accountability. The outlet had previously published a text message, shared by a former Gonzales staffer, in which Santos-Aviles acknowledged the affair.
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In the original interview, Aviles spoke about the texts and what they contained. Gonzales has denied any involvement between the two.
Following his denial, Gonzales claimed he was being blackmailed by the husband, posting a note on X from the lawyer of Aviles requesting a $300,000 settlement. Aviles responded promptly to the post, denying the allegation.
Aviles told the San Antonio Express-News he was releasing the texts not for any legal reason, but to prove they were not blackmailing Gonzales.
“I’m releasing them now because I don’t want to be called a liar and don’t want her to be called a liar,” Aviles said. “I also want to show proof to everybody the type of person that he is. He’s a predator. He took advantage of a very vulnerable woman.”
Last year, authorities said Santos-Aviles poured gasoline on herself outside her home and set herself on fire, and she died the next day at a hospital in San Antonio. Police ruled the death a suicide.
The Office of Congressional Conduct sent an investigative letter last year to look into Gonzales’s alleged affair. Investigators sought text messages, emails, and other communications about the relationship, asking Aviles to provide any information he had on the affair.
NBC News reported last week that the OCC concluded its investigation but cannot transmit its report to the House Ethics Committee because it falls within a 60-day window before an election, as Gonzales’s primary election is just less than two weeks away.
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The three-term congressman is facing a heated primary challenge in his red-leaning South Texas district from Second Amendment activist Brandon Herrera. Gonzales narrowly defeated Herrera in 2024 for the Republican nomination, and the 2026 primary is set for March 3.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Gonzales’s office and House leadership for comment.
