Born in San Antonio, Texas, United States, Ernest Anthony “Tony” Gonzales II is a U.S. Navy veteran and a member of the Republican Party. He and his wife Angel Gonzales have six children together.
On January 3, 2021, Tony assumed office as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the 23rd district of Texas. One of his senior aides was Adrian Aviles‘s wife Regina Ann “Regi” Santos Aviles.
Regi Aviles
Born in Uvalde, Texas, Regi turned 35 on June 12, 2025. She is Nora Gonzales‘s daughter, Jaime Gonzales‘s stepdaughter and Johnnie Santos‘s sister.
Adrian and Regi have a son named Axel Aviles. Adrian is Delia Aviles‘s son and Andrew Aviles and Becca Aviles‘s brother.
On September 14, 2025, Regi died after setting herself on fire at her home in Uvalde. While Tony maintains he had no involvement in her passing, he has utilized his recent media appearances to lob serious accusations against Adrian.
Tony cited an alleged police report to claim that Adrian was unfaithful and suggested Regi’s husband attempted to “shake him down” for $300,000 in exchange for silence or as a settlement following the tragedy. According to Tony, Adrian’s interest was purely financial, alleging that inquiries into death benefits and retirement funds began almost immediately after the incident.
Moreover, Tony alleged that a criminal defense attorney reached out on Adrian’s behalf to demand the six-figure sum. The congressman claimed that he refused the request.
Tony Gonzales
After months of vehement denials and questioning the credibility of investigative reporting, Tony has officially admitted to engaging in an extramarital affair with Regi. The timing of this confession is particularly significant, as it coincides with a formal investigation launched by the U.S. House of Representatives, which strictly prohibits its members from engaging in sexual relationships with their subordinates, a policy designed to prevent workplace exploitation and power imbalances.
In an interview with Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo on March 4, 2026, Tony characterized his affair with Regi as a “lapse in judgment” and a “lack of faith,” stating that he takes full responsibility for his actions. However, this admission follows a period in November 2025 where he explicitly lied to the media, labeling the reports as false.
Despite Tony’s attempts to frame the narrative as a “coordinated media attack” designed to suppress his vote on key legislation or damage Donald Trump’s agenda, physical evidence suggests a persistent pursuit of the aide. Text messages released by Adrian show Tony soliciting explicit photos and asking invasive sexual questions. Even after Regi expressed that the conversation was “going too far” and questioned his sobriety during late-night exchanges, the congressman continued his advances.
Currently, Tony faces immense political pressure. Having recently been forced into a primary runoff, his Republican colleagues are increasingly calling for accountability. While he claims to welcome the federal investigation into the workplace environment he fostered, he continues to deflect blame toward the media and the victim’s family, asserting that his leadership is essential for Republicans to maintain control of the House.
CONAN Daily 