Rep. Tony Gonzales addressed accusations of an affair with his former aide Regina Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide last year.
In an interview on the “Unshaken and Unafraid with Joe Pags” YouTube show posted Wednesday evening, Gonzales was asked if he had a relationship with Santos-Aviles.
“You know, very, very direct, Pags, 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,” Gonzales said. “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.”
The House Ethics Committee announced Wednesday an investigative subcommittee will determine whether Gonzales violated the code of conduct amid allegations that he “engaged in sexual misconduct” with his employee and “discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges,” according to a release from Ethics Committee chairman, U.S. Rep. Michael Guest (R-Mississippi).
“I look forward to the ethics committee starting an investigation. I appreciate the opportunity to be able to provide all the facts,” Gonzales said in the YouTube interview.
Santos-Aviles died on Sept. 14 after investigators said she doused herself in gasoline and set herself on fire at her Uvalde home.
Last month, the Uvalde Leader-News reported that Regina Santos-Aviles’ pay spiked in 2024, the same year she allegedly had an affair with Gonzales.
Her husband, Adrian Aviles, previously said he was “exhausted and tired” of statements made by Gonzales in the aftermath of her death. In January, Aviles released sexually explicit texts sent in May 2024 between his wife and the congressman.
“We’re going to stand up to him, and we’re not going to allow him to bully us like he’s bullied everybody else and continued to lie about it,” Aviles said in an interview with CNN.
>> TIMELINE: Rep. Tony Gonzales’ relationship with staffer Regina Santos-Aviles
Gonzales has said Aviles tried blackmailing him and profiting off Santos-Aviles’ death.
Bobby Barrera, Aviles’ attorney, told KSAT on Wednesday that Gonzales “needs to make an admission that he had a sexual affair with a subordinate.”
After Tuesday’s primary election, Gonzales is now in a runoff against gun rights activist and YouTube personality Brandon Herrera.
Gonzales, who has resisted calls for his resignation, has spent months refusing to answer KSAT Investigates’ questions.
Related coverage on KSAT.com:
- ‘This is going too far’: Husband of Rep. Tony Gonzales’ former aide shares texts between his wife, congressman
- US Rep. Tony Gonzales refuses to address affair allegations months after dodging KSAT Investigates’ questions
- ‘This isn’t political for me’: Husband of Rep. Tony Gonzales’ former aide says focus is on the facts
