The 19-minute interview amounted to the Republican congressman’s most in-depth public remarks since the September death of Regina Santos-Aviles.
SAN ANTONIO — Contending with a controversy that has clouded his reelection bid now heading to a primary runoff battle, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales appeared on an online radio show and admitted he “made a mistake” when asked about allegations he had an affair with a former staffer.
Gonzales, the Republican congressman vying for a fourth term representing the 23rd Congressional District, appeared on “The Joe Pags Show” Wednesday to discus the allegations in-depth for the first time since Regina Santos-Aviles died at her Uvalde home in September.
“I had a lapse in judgement,” Gonzales said, when asked about if he had a relationship with Santos-Aviles.” “There was a lack of faith. I take full responsibility for those actions. Since then, I have reconciled with my wife Angel. I have asked God to forgive me, which he has. And my faith is as strong as ever.”
“When you make mistakes like this, it’s never easy,” the congressman continued. “It humbles you.”
Gonzales also criticized how the story of his alleged affair has been portrayed in news reports, saying that only part of the story has been shared. Appearing on the show a day after securing his spot in the Republican primary runoff, he said he looked forward to more information coming to light through a forthcoming Ethics Committee investigation.”
I appreciate the opportunity to be able to provide all the facts, all the details that lead to exactly what occurred in the entire situation,” Gonzales said.
Santos-Aviles died after setting herself on fire on Sept. 15, 2025, according to Uvalde law enforcement. Her estranged husband later alleged Gonzales and Santos-Aviles had had an affair, and texts released through his attorney appeared to show Gonzales sending his aide lewd messages more than a year prior.
“Send me a sexy pic,” read one of those texts sent by Gonzales to Santos-Aviles in Mary 2024. A few minutes later, he asked her about her favorite sexual positions, writing, “I’m just such a visual person.”
“This is going too far boss,” she messaged him later in the conversation, when Gonzales texted about a sexual fantasy involving Santos-Aviles.
When Gonzales pried about other sex acts, Santos-Aviles texted again: “This is too far, Tony.”
The congressman has resisted calls to resign – some of them coming from fellow Republicans – in the weeks since the texts came to light.
In the radio show, the congressman said he last spoke with Santos-Aviles in June 2024, which would have been just weeks after the text conversation.
“I had absolutely nothing to do with her tragic passing, and in fact I was shocked just as much as everyone else was,” Gonzales said.
He and gun rights activist Brandon Herrera, who has seized the opportunity to attack Gonzales during the primary season, are vying off in the runoff election set for May 26.
This is a developing story.