Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) broke his silence during an appearance at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, addressing allegations of an affair with his late congressional aide, Regina Santos-Aviles. The claims, which Gonzales described as "completely untruthful," surfaced after the tragic death of Santos-Aviles, who took her own life by setting herself on fire at her Texas home in September.
Gonzales, who represents Texas's 23rd Congressional District, acknowledged the intense scrutiny he's faced in the political arena, emphasizing the need for resilience. The congressman adhered to a request from Regina’s family for privacy during this period of mourning. His press office had previously issued a statement commending Santos-Aviles as a kind soul with a community impact, without addressing the allegations reported by the Daily Mail in October.
Santos-Aviles, who joined Gonzales' office as a Regional Director in November 2021, was responsible for substantial district operations. The Bexar County Medical Examiner confirmed her death as a suicide this week, as reported by the San Antonio Current. Gonzales cited the official investigation, which ruled out criminal conduct, as the reason for his delay in speaking publicly about the incident.
At the festival, Gonzales expressed uncertainty about the circumstances leading to Santos-Aviles's death and mentioned that he has had no contact with investigators. He conveyed a general distrust of media coverage and is awaiting the final official report before providing further comments.
The devastating event occurred on September 13 at Santos-Aviles's home in Uvalde, Texas. She doused herself in gasoline and set herself alight in her backyard. Her mother, Nora Gonzales, found her severely burned and requesting water. Emergency services extinguished burning gasoline cans at the scene and transported Santos-Aviles to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where she succumbed to her injuries the following day.
In a phone call shortly before the incident, a distraught Santos-Aviles expressed a desire to see her 8-year-old son to her mother, who is now grappling with the loss and the unfounded claims about her daughter's personal life. The family has firmly denied the allegations of an affair and separation from her husband, labeling such reports as "completely false."
The congressman referred to the political nature of the attacks against him, noting that being an elected official with his name on the door makes him susceptible to accusations. Meanwhile, social media reactions have been mixed, with some criticizing Gonzales's reticence to address the rumors. Texas congressional candidate @TheAKGuy, for instance, called the hesitance "embarrassing," as detailed in a tweet by One America News.
