Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) decried the claims that he had an affair together with his congressional aide earlier than she set herself on fireplace as “fully untruthful” in his first public feedback since her September demise.
Gonzales, who represents Texas’ 23 District, which encompasses the southwest a part of the state, denied that he was romantically linked with 35-year-old Regina Santos-Aviles.
“The rumors are fully untruthful, and Regina’s household has requested for privateness,” the married congressman stated throughout an look on the Texas Tribune Competition in Austin on Thursday, in line with the San Antonio Present.
“In politics, it’s important to have thick pores and skin, and my title is on the door and so persons are throwing rocks at me saying actually nasty issues, that’s the place we get that,” he stated.
The daddy of six had not publicly spoken out concerning the rumors till Thursday, as his press workplace repeatedly refused to handle the claims made in a Every day Mail report in October.
“Regina Aviles was a sort soul who had an enduring impression on her neighborhood, which she continued to serve till her premature demise,” Gonzales’ workplace stated.
Santos-Aviles labored as a Regional Director in Gonzales’ workplace since November 2021.
Her demise was dominated a suicide this week by the Bexar County Medical Examiner, the San Antonio Present reported.
Gonzales stated he was ready for officers to rule out any legal conduct earlier than he spoke out over the tragedy.
“I don’t know precisely what occurred,” he stated at Thursday’s occasion. “Nobody’s contacted me. I haven’t contacted anybody. I’m genuinely untrusting of those shops. I’m ready for the ultimate report.”
Santos-Aviles “doused herself in gasoline” earlier than “igniting in flames” within the yard of her Uvalde, Texas residence on Sept. 13.
Santos-Aviles’s mom, Nora Gonzales, discovered her daughter badly burned and begging for water. Firefighters extinguished burning gasoline cans once they arrived on the residence.
She succumbed to her accidents at Brooke Military Medical Middle in San Antonio the subsequent day. Santos-Aviles’s final phrases have been, “I don’t need to die,” Nora Gonzales informed the San Antonio Specific Information.
Nora Gonzales recalled {that a} “distraught” Santos-Aviles referred to as her earlier simply earlier than setting herself on fireplace, saying that she needed her 8-year-old son, the outlet reported.
The household of the 35-year-old mom of 1 shot down the report from the Every day Mail that alleged Santos-Aviles separated from her husband and had an affair with Gonzales as “fully false.”
“I don’t assume it has any advantage,” Nora Gonzales informed The Submit.
The grieving mom informed The Submit she is uncertain why her daughter doused herself in gasoline.
In case you are combating suicidal ideas or are experiencing a psychological well being disaster and dwell in New York Metropolis, you’ll be able to name 1-888-NYC-WELL totally free and confidential disaster counseling. Should you dwell exterior the 5 boroughs, you’ll be able to dial the 24/7 Nationwide Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
