WASHINGTON — Congressional ethics officials announced Wednesday they have begun investigating Texas Representative Tony Gonzales amid claims he engaged in an improper relationship with a member of his staff.
In a bipartisan statement, the House Ethics Committee’s leadership revealed they are examining allegations that Gonzales committed sexual misconduct involving an office employee and potentially provided unfair preferential treatment.
Representatives from Gonzales’ congressional office have not responded to requests for comment from news organizations.
The Republican lawmaker, currently serving his third term, has previously stated he will not resign over these accusations. Speaking to reporters at the Capitol, he indicated more information would eventually be revealed.
“What you’ve seen is not all the facts,” Gonzales stated.
The 44-year-old congressman, who is married with six children, initially captured his seat in 2020 following a two-decade military service that included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. This week, he was pushed into a May primary runoff against challenger Brandon Herrera, a firearms manufacturer and YouTube personality focused on gun rights who came close to defeating Gonzales in the 2024 Republican primary.
According to reporting by the San Antonio Express-News, text messages were discovered showing former Gonzales employee Regina Ann Santos-Aviles admitting to a coworker that she had engaged in an affair with the congressman.
The Associated Press has not verified these text messages independently. Legal representation for Adrian Aviles, Santos-Aviles’ spouse, confirmed that the husband learned of the alleged affair prior to his wife’s passing.
Santos-Aviles, age 35, passed away in September 2025 after intentionally setting herself ablaze at her Uvalde, Texas residence. Medical examiners in Bexar County subsequently determined her death was by suicide.
