Just days after surviving a crowded Republican primary, Rep. Tony Gonzales publicly acknowledged an extramarital affair that has fueled weeks of controversy in his South Texas district.
According to the New York Post, while speaking on “The Joe Pags Show,” Gonzales admitted he had a relationship with a staffer in May 2024.
“I made a mistake, and I had a lapse in judgment,” Gonzales said during the interview, which aired a day after Tuesday’s GOP primary.
“And there was a lack of faith,” he continued. “And I take full responsibility for those actions.”
Gonzales said he and his wife have since reconciled.
“I’ve asked God to forgive me, which he has,” he said.
“When you make mistakes like this, it’s never easy. It humbles you.”
The admission comes as the House Ethics Committee investigates allegations that Gonzales “engaged in sexual misconduct” with a staffer and “discriminated unfairly” by “dispensing special favors or privileges.”
Leaked text messages published last month showed Gonzales asking the staffer for “a sexy pic.”
Additional texts shared with The Post reportedly showed the woman discussing the “affair” with a former colleague.
The staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, 35, died in September 2025 after setting herself on fire in the backyard of her Uvalde home. She succumbed to her injuries the following day.
Her husband, Adrian Aviles, has accused Gonzales of having “abused his power” by engaging in a relationship with a subordinate and has demanded accountability.
Several House Republicans have also called on Gonzales to resign.
“There’s a whole lot more to the story, a lot more to the story that isn’t out there,” Gonzales said during the radio interview.
“You know, some of the reports are saying that [Santos-Aviles] was not thriving at work. It’s the exact opposite. She was thriving at work,” he added.
Gonzales denied any responsibility for her death.
“I hadn’t spoken with Miss Santos since June of 2024. She passed September of 2025 … I had absolutely nothing to do with her tragic passing. And in fact, I was shocked just as much as everyone else,” he said.
Gonzales, 45, failed to secure a majority in Texas’s 23rd Congressional District primary and will face Brandon Herrera in a May 26 runoff. Herrera, who narrowly lost to Gonzales in 2024, edged the incumbent by nearly 1,000 votes in Tuesday’s contest.
