Texas Republican Tony Gonzales admits to affair with staffer who died by suicide as House opens ethics probe | EUROtoday

Representative Tony Gonzales has admitted to having an affair with a staffer who died by suicide final yr because the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into the Texas Republican.

Gonzales has come clear after months of being accused of getting an inappropriate relationship with Regina Santos-Aviles, a 35-year-old spouse and mom who labored in his Uvalde workplace.

“I made a mistake and I had a lapse in judgement and there was a lack of faith and I take full responsibility for those actions,” the congressman advised conservative speak present host Joe Pagliarulo in a bombshell interview launched Wednesday.

Gonzales has six kids together with his spouse, Angel. He advised Pagliarulo that he had reconciled with Angel after the affair and had “asked God to forgive me, which he has,” including that his “faith is as strong as ever.”

Santos-Aviles died in September 2025in the yard of her Uvalde residence. Gonzales advised Pagliarulo he had “absolutely nothing to do” with the previous staffer’s dying.

The House Ethics Committee introduced Wednesday that it was opening a probe to find out whether or not Gonzales violated any guidelines in reference to allegations that he might have engaged in sexual misconduct towards an worker in his workplace and discriminated unfairly by giving particular favors.

When Pagliarulo requested whether or not Gonzales understood the ability dynamic between a boss and a subordinate, the congressman mentioned, “It’s a serious issue that we have to talk about.”

“I take responsibility for my actions,” Gonzales mentioned. “It’s also important to know all the details and all the facts.”

Gonzales confronted elevated scrutiny concerning the affair earlier this month, when the San Antonio Express-News revealed textual content messages the congressman supposedly despatched to Santos-Aviles in May 2024, together with one which reportedly learn, “Send me a sexy pic.”

Bobby Barrera, an lawyer for Santos-Aviles’ widow, Adrian Aviles, advised native outlet KSAT in an interview launched earlier this month that Adrian knew concerning the affair and it was the explanation he and his spouse separated. The Independent has reached out to Barrera for remark.

Despite calls to resign, Gonzales is in search of reelection. He was compelled right into a major runoff with gun rights activist Brandon Herrera after failing to safe 50 p.c of the vote.

If you or somebody you understand is scuffling with suicidal ideas, attain out to the nationwide suicide and disaster lifeline at 988.