An lawyer for the widower of Rep. Tony Gonzales’ former aide alleges the Texas Republican coerced the staffer right into a sexual relationship and is now “taking part in the function of a sufferer in a scenario that he created.”
The staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, died by suicide in September after setting herself on fireplace, in keeping with the post-mortem report. Months earlier, she claimed in a textual content message to a colleague that she “had an affair with our boss,” in keeping with the textual content message, which was obtained by CBS Information.
Gonzales, who represents a sprawling district alongside the U.S.-Mexico border, has denied allegations that he had a sexual relationship with Santos-Aviles. He has additionally accused her widower’s lawyer of making an attempt to blackmail him by in search of $300,000 in change for a non-disclosure settlement — which the lawyer denied.
“An open, shielded secret”
Lawyer Bobby Barrera, who’s representing Santos-Aviles’ husband, Adrien Aviles, spoke to CBS Information in an interview Wednesday. Aviles was current for the interview however did not communicate to CBS Information.
Barrera stated the congressman’s relationship with the late staffer was “an open, shielded secret” and that the secrecy was maintained at Gonzales’ express request.
“It was shielded on the request of Tony Gonzales that his employees all proceed to work collectively for the great and good thing about all people, working collectively and getting by way of this factor and previous the election,” he stated.
Barrera additionally claimed on Thursday that textual content messages from a forensic obtain of Santos-Aviles’ cellphone present Gonzales pushed Santos-Aviles right into a sexual relationship, with the late staffer at occasions pushing again. He described exchanges that allegedly point out Santos-Aviles communicated Gonzales was “going too far” and that she was employed for her look.
“Coercion is an interpretive subject, relying upon who’s sending the message and who’s receiving it,” Barrera stated in a earlier interview. “What one individual could say is a straightforward query, another person could interpret as coercion — as a result of, guess what, it is coming out of your boss requesting that you just do one thing that’s not notably correct, as in, ship him footage or meet him at specific areas.”
A supply near the Santos-Aviles household instructed 24sight Information in October that the late staffer had confided in them concerning the relationship. “She stated, ‘I want your recommendation — I’ve actually screwed up,'” they instructed the publication. “It is a very tragic scenario as a result of, for my part, Tony took benefit of a younger lady with out regard for the results.”
Gonzales denied the affair in an interview with a Punchbowl Information reporter in November. “The rumors are fully untruthful,” he stated. He and his workplace haven’t responded to requests from CBS Information for touch upon this story.
Santos-Aviles’ mom, Nora Gonzales, additionally denied her daughter was in a relationship with the congressman, telling the New York Publish the accusations have been “fully false.”
Lawyer denies extortion declare
Gonzales responded not directly to the allegations on Thursday by posting to X an excerpt from a letter from Barrera, with the caption: “I WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED. Disgusting to see folks revenue politically and financially off a tragic loss of life.”
Barrera claimed that what Gonzales is characterizing as extortion was in actual fact a normal confidential settlement letter despatched to the congressman’s lawyer, to not Gonzales himself, outlining claims below the Congressional Accountability Act. That legislation, handed within the Nineteen Nineties, governs office rights for congressional workers.
“Any declare of extortion implies that he truly did one thing unsuitable and that we wish cash to maintain our mouth shut,” Barrera stated. “However what he is didn’t acknowledge is that he had this affair. It shocks the conscience that he would do that, with the exception that he is making an attempt to play the sufferer as soon as once more.”
Within the letter Gonzales posted — which Barrera claims was cropped earlier than being made public — Barrera had proposed a settlement that would come with a non-disclosure settlement for $300,000, the utmost recoverable below the Congressional Accountability Act.
Barrera stated the quantity was not arbitrary, noting it additionally corresponds to straightforward householders insurance coverage coverage limits.
He additionally claimed Gonzales “clearly cropped” the letter earlier than posting it publicly, omitting what he stated described “substantial proof that we had of sexual harassment and retaliation harassment within the workplace with Regina.”
“Our declare is respectable. Our details are respectable. Our allegations are truthful,” Barrera stated.
Lawyer says Santos-Aviles’ psychological well being declined
Barrera described a pointy decline in Santos-Aviles’ psychological well being following the alleged finish of the connection — one thing Barrera attributed on to Gonzales’ conduct within the office.
“There aren’t any documented psychological well being points previous to this relationship with Tony Gonzales that anybody can communicate of or level to,” he stated. “The deterioration of her psychological state was exacerbated by the conduct Tony engaged in — the office harassment after the invention of the affair.”
Public information on Legistorm present Santos-Aviles’ annual wage rose from roughly $54,000 to $72,000 — a increase of roughly $18,000 — shortly after her husband found the alleged affair by way of textual content messages on her cellphone, in keeping with a number of sources.
Gonzales didn’t attend Santos-Aviles’ funeral final fall, showing as a substitute on a podcast that day to debate political violence, with no point out of her loss of life in any of his workplace’s newsletters within the week that adopted, sources stated.
Gonzales is dealing with a aggressive main in his reelection marketing campaign. President Trump has endorsed him, however he’s being challenged by Brandon Herrera, whom he narrowly defeated in 2024 after the race went to a runoff. A Home GOP management aide stated that “management is ready and watching to see what occurs with Tony Gonzales,” including that there are at the moment no redactions in endorsements or assist.
Which will partially replicate the truth that his district is taken into account safely Republican territory within the common election: Gonzales received reelection by 25% in 2024. However with the Home GOP holding solely a slim majority, and aggressive primaries already unfolding throughout the map, social gathering leaders are keenly conscious that in a midterm cycle the place management of the chamber may hinge on only a handful of races, each seat and each contest carries added weight. Texas will maintain its main elections on March 3, with early voting already underway.
