AUSTIN, Tx., February 18, 2026: In an update to a story we brought you back in November, former staffer for Tony Gonzales (R-23) who died of self-immolation after she set herself on fire had been involved in an affair with the Texas congressman before committing suicide, according to a former staffer at the congressman’s office. Gonzales represents part of El Paso.
San Antonio Express News, which has been closely following the events around this story since Regina Santos-Aviles committed suicide on September 14, 2025, reported yesterday that a former staffer in Gonzales’ office shared text messages showing that Gonzales and Santos-Aviles had been involved in a romantic relationship since 2024.
Both were married at the time…