The same day the House Ethics Committee announced it’s looking into his conduct, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales admitted during a Wednesday syndicated right-wing podcast that he had an affair with a staffer who later committed suicide by lighting herself on fire.
Prior to his admission on Joe Pags’ talk show — which also came a day after Tuesday’s primary election — Gonzales had repeatedly and vehemently denied he’d had a sexual relationship with Regina Santos-Aviles, who worked in his Uvalde office.
“I take full responsibility for those actions,” Gonzales, a married father of six, told Pags, whose San Antonio-based show is carried nationwide. “Since then, I have reconciled with my wife, Angel. I’ve asked God to forgive me, which he has. And my faith is as strong as ever.”
The House Ethics Committee revealed Wednesday it will assemble a panel to investigate whether the congressman, who represents a wide swath of the U.S.-Mexico border, “engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual employed in his congressional office” and “discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges.”
“I appreciate the opportunity to provide all the facts and all the details that lead to exactly what occurred in the entire situation,” Gonzales said of the inquiry.
Gonzales’ appearance on the program comes as he faces a 12-week runoff campaign to retain the seat he’s held for three terms. He finished just behind Brandon “AK Guy” Herrera, a YouTube gun influencer who’s made the congressman’s relationship with Santos-Aviles a key part of his campaign. Neither secured more than half the vote, however.
“A lot has changed recently,” Herrera told the Current on election night. “Voters are finding out exactly who their congressman is.”
Dodges and denials
Although Gonzales owned up to the affair in Wednesday’s interview, describing it a “lapse in judgement,” he denied that he showered favorable treatment to Santos-Aviles, who remained on his payroll until her death. He said a pay raise and bonus he awarded her preceded the affair.
Gonzales also said he had “absolutely nothing” to do with Santos-Aviles’ death, citing a police report in which the badly injured woman told emergency responders that her husband was having an affair with her best friend.
“I wonder if that had something to do with her tragic passing,” Gonzales said.
Several lawmakers from Gonzales’ own party have called on him to resign in the wake of the salacious reports about his conduct. Those include the Express-News’ unearthing of text messages in which Santos-Aviles told Gonzales his requests for sexy photos and dirty talk went “too far.”
Gonzales declined to tell Pags whether the texts were real. However, he said the timing of reports about his affair were designed to derail his campaign. Further, he remained defiant that he won’t give up his seat or suspend his reelection effort.
“Those that are asking for me not to do my job are the ones that want to see the Republicans fail here in Congress,” Gonzales said. “There’s no time. We can’t let anything slow us down from executing President Trump’s agenda.”
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