A work colleague of Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales married aide, who died by suicide last September has made public text exchange that confirmed an affair her boss — months before she fatally set herself on fire.

Regina Santos-Aviles appeared to acknowledge the tryst in April 2025, saying: “I had [an] affair with our boss and I’m fine.” That confession to her co-worker was first reported by a local newspaper, which later withdrew its endorsement of Gonzales in the March 3 GOP primary, saying the congressman “has questions to answer.”

On Sept. 13, 2025, Santos-Aviles covered herself in gasoline before lighting herself ablaze in the backyard of her Uvalde, Texas, home. The 35-year-old wife and mother of one worked as a regional director for Gonzales in the Lone Star State’s 23rd Congressional District, which comprises much of the area of west Texas bordering Mexico, including the western outskirts of San Antonio.

The colleague of Santos-Aviles, who provided the message no longer works for Gonzales, told local newspaper the affair became known among the congressman’s staff members during the 2024 election cycle.

That May, the person said, Santos-Aviles called them in tears because her husband, Adrian Aviles, had discovered text messages between Gonzales and Santos-Aviles confirming the affair and texted a group of local staffers to expose the relationship.

After that, in the former staffer’s words, Santos-Aviles “went from the number one employee in the office to nothing.” Gonzales cancelled meetings arranged by his regional director and Santos-Aviles no longer accompanied him on visits to Uvalde.

Gonzales, 45, who is running for a fourth House term this November, has denied the fling and that the purported fling was just “people throwing rocks at me, saying I’m doing nasty things.”