Lawyer claims Tony Gonzales coerced his late aide right into a relationship and is “taking part in the function of a sufferer in a scenario that he created”

An legal professional 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 hearth, in accordance 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 accordance 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 searching for $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 nice and advantage of everyone, working collectively and getting by this factor and previous the election,” he stated.

Barrera additionally claimed on Thursday that textual content messages from a forensic obtain of Santos-Aviles’ telephone present Gonzales pushed Santos-Aviles right into a sexual relationship, with the late staffer at instances 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 isn’t significantly correct, as in, ship him photos or meet him at specific areas.”

A supply near the Santos-Aviles household advised 24sight Information in October that the late staffer had confided in them in regards to the relationship. “She stated, ‘I want your recommendation — I’ve actually screwed up,'” they advised 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 truth a regular confidential settlement letter despatched to the congressman’s legal professional, to not Gonzales himself, outlining claims below the Congressional Accountability Act. That legislation, handed within the Nineteen Nineties, governs office rights for congressional staff.

“Any declare of extortion implies that he really did one thing improper and that we wish cash to maintain our mouth shut,” Barrera stated. “However what he is did not 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 plain 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 authentic. Our information are authentic. 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 data on Legistorm present Santos-Aviles’ annual wage rose from roughly $54,000 to $72,000 — a elevate of roughly $18,000 — shortly after her husband found the alleged affair by textual content messages on her telephone, in accordance with a number of sources.

Gonzales didn’t attend Santos-Aviles’ funeral final fall, showing as an alternative 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 going through 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 help.

That will partially replicate the truth that his district is taken into account safely Republican territory within the basic 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, occasion 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.