Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales has publicly denied having an affair with his former aide Regina Aviles, two months after her tragic death by self-immolation.
The Tragic Incident and Initial Response
Regina Aviles, who served as regional director for the Texas congressman, died on September 14 after dousing herself with gasoline and setting herself on fire at her Uvalde home. The incident occurred on September 13 and was captured by her home security cameras, according to investigators.
Speaking at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Thursday, Gonzales addressed the allegations for the first time, stating: "The rumours are completely untruthful. I am generally untrusting of these outlets."
The medical examiner's office in Bexar County has ruled Aviles' death a suicide by self-immolation, though a final report and autopsy won't be available for several weeks.
Allegations and Avoidance
Multiple sources speaking to Daily Mail on condition of anonymity claimed Aviles and the married congressman became romantically involved after she joined his staff in November 2021. Their relationship allegedly continued "for some time" and her husband, Adrian Aviles, was reportedly aware of the situation at the time of her death.
Gonzales has repeatedly avoided answering direct questions about the alleged affair. Earlier this week, when approached by San Antonio station KSAT at a Veterans Day event, he cut off a reporter saying: "It's Veterans Day. I hope we're talking about veterans stuff."
His office had previously uninvited local reporters from events following Aviles' death, and his spokesman declined multiple opportunities to deny the affair when approached by Daily Mail.
Family Impact and Final Words
Aviles' mother, Nora Gonzales, described the incident as a tragic accident and revealed her daughter's final words were: "I don't want to die." The 41-year-old was airlifted to San Antonio but died in hospital the next day.
Aviles and her husband had separated after he learned of the alleged affair earlier this year but continued to co-parent their eight-year-old son. Sources indicate Adrian Aviles had installed cameras at their former family home, which captured the tragic event.
Gonzales has asked for privacy for Aviles' family, stating: "Regina's family has asked for privacy. If it was your family or any of our families, I would argue that you would want privacy as well."
The Uvalde Police Department has handed the security footage to the Texas Department of Public Safety's crime lab for review as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding her death.
