GOP Lawmaker Claims He’s Getting ‘Blackmailed’ Over Staffer’s Death

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) is “playing the victim,” an attorney for Regina Santos-Aviles’ widower told HuffPost.

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) on Thursday claimed he’s being “blackmailed” over the recent death of a staff member with whom he reportedly had an affair.

But in an interview with HuffPost, Robert Barrera, an attorney representing the staffer’s family, called Gonzales’ blackmail claim “a last act of desperation of a politician who’s going down the toilet.”

Gonzales posted an image on social media of a message from Barrera discussing a $300,000 settlement in exchange for his client signing a non-disclosure agreement. Barrera represents the husband of Regina Santos-Aviles, who worked for Gonzales out of his district office in Uvalde and reportedly had an affair with him before she died in September after setting herself on fire.

“I WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED,” Gonzales wrote. “Disgusting to see people profit politically and financially off a tragic death. The public should IMMEDIATELY have full access to the Uvalde Police report.”

Barrera said his client, Adrian Aviles, was offering to settle privately instead of filing a claim under the Congressional Accountability Act over his wife’s death. The law, which was updated in the Me Too era, gives employment and labor rights to legislative branch employees, including those who suffer sexual harassment and retaliation. Barrera said the letter was sent on Feb. 10, more than a week before the San Antonio Express-News reported Tuesday that another person who worked for Gonzales confirmed he’d had an affair with Aviles’ now-deceased wife.