The Daily Mail has published a bombshell report claiming a Republican congressman was having an affair with his congressional aide at the time she set fatally herself on fire last month.
The New York Post then released another report, saying the mother of the deceased aide has denied the claims.
From the Daily Mail: Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales allegedly had an affair with a senior aide who later died after dousing herself with gasoline and setting herself on fire, multiple sources have told the Daily Mail.
Regina Aviles, 35, poured gasoline over herself before becoming engulfed in flames at her home on September 13 in Uvalde, Texas – about two hours west of San Antonio.
The married mother-of-one, who was separated from her husband, had served as Gonzales’s regional district director in Uvalde since 2021.
Sources who spoke with the Daily Mail on the condition of anonymity said that Aviles and the married congressman became romantically involved after she joined his staff on November 21, 2021.
When contacted by the Daily Mail, a spokesman for Gonzales refused to deny the affair between the congressman and Aviles. The Daily Mail said two additional sources confirmed the affair.
The Daily Mail cited one source as saying that Aviles’ husband, Adrian Aviles, had been aware of the relationship between his wife and Gonzales at the time of her death.
Gonzales, 45, a Republican, has served in U.S. Congress since January 2021, and represents a huge district that stretches from San Antonio through Uvalde to El Paso.
In September, 2023, Gonzales was trying to bring attention to the illegal alien invasion at the border near Eagle Pass, Texas, and was joined at the border by Elon Musk. Aviles was also with Gonzales on that trip, and is seen walking amongst the crowd in the following video:
TX: @elonmusk makes a trip to Eagle Pass alongside @RepTonyGonzales to see the ongoing immigration crisis firsthand.
His live stream showed hundreds of migrants sitting outside under the bridge as the soft-sided facility “firefly” continues to be beyond capacity—The facility is… pic.twitter.com/nNxwS0yWOU
— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) September 29, 2023
SHOCK ALERT: 🚨 Married Congressman, Rep. Tony Gonzales had alleged affair with aide just before she APPARENTLY set herself on fire.
Police have currently blocked release of the 911 call and other significant evidence. pic.twitter.com/9GclB2jusk
— E X X ➠A L E R T S (@ExxAlerts) October 21, 2025
STAFFER PASSES AWAY | https://t.co/d2d8lUDIYo
The Uvalde Police Department confirms they are investigating the recent death of a staff member of U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales’s office, along with the Texas Rangers. pic.twitter.com/9vx1P91vxl— News 4 San Antonio (@News4SA) September 18, 2025
READ MORE from the Daily Mail.
However, the New York Post appears to refute the Daily Mail’s report. The report states:
The grieving mom of a congressional aide who died after setting herself on fire last month denied claims her daughter was having an affair with her married boss, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas).
Regina Santos-Aviles’s mother, Nora Gonzales, shot down a Daily Mail report on Monday that Santos-Aviles had separated from her husband and had an affair with Gonzales before her death at her Uvalde, Texas, home on Sept. 13.
“I don’t think it has any merit,” Nora Gonzales told The Post, adding that the claims are “completely false.”
Meanwhile, Gonzales is being challenged in the Republican primary by Brandon Herrera, an entrepreneur, Second Amendment activist and social media personality.
In a post Tuesday afternoon, Herrera wrote, “Now more than ever, Texas needs real leadership. I am a manufacturer who understands what it means to run a business. I will actually put America first, not just talk about it. I will defend the constitution, not use it as a prop. And with your help, we will win.”
Now more than ever, Texas needs real leadership.
I am a manufacturer who understands what it means to run a business. I will actually put America first, not just talk about it. I will defend the constitution, not use it as a prop.
And with your help, we will win. pic.twitter.com/vYFqArxW6s
— Brandon Herrera (@TheAKGuy) October 21, 2025
🚨BREAKING: I want to make this ABSOLUTE clear. I am giving @TheAKGuy my FULL ENDORSEMENT.
There is NO WAY that Tony Gonzales will win, especially after the BOMBSHELL story below became public.
Show Brandon some SUPPORT! We need more REAL AMERICANS in Congress! https://t.co/uE1Qgx05pe pic.twitter.com/56AZowBzXC
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) October 21, 2025
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