Rep. Tony Gonzales admits to affair with former staffer, calling it a "lapse in judgment"
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas admitted for the first time to having a relationship with former staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, who later died by suicide, but claimed the ensuing controversy is driven by "power and money."
- Text messages obtained by CBS News reveal explicit exchanges between Gonzales and Santos-Aviles in May 2024, including requests for provocative photos and admissions of an affair from Santos-Aviles.
- Santos-Aviles died by suicide in September 2025 after setting herself on fire; Gonzales denied any involvement in her death and expressed shock at the tragedy.
- The House Ethics Committee has launched an investigation into whether Gonzales engaged in sexual misconduct or unfairly favored Santos-Aviles, with Gonzales
