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 “utterly untruthful” in his first public feedback since her September loss of life.
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 utterly untruthful, and Regina’s household has requested for privateness,” the married congressman mentioned throughout an look on the Texas Tribune Competition in Austin on Thursday, based on the San Antonio Present.
“In politics, it’s a must to have thick pores and skin, and my identify is on the door and so individuals are throwing rocks at me saying actually nasty issues, that’s the place we get that,” he mentioned.
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 influence on her group, which she continued to serve till her premature loss of life,” Gonzales’ workplace mentioned.
Santos-Aviles labored as a Regional Director in Gonzales’ workplace since November 2021.
Her loss of life was dominated a suicide this week by the Bexar County Medical Examiner, the San Antonio Present reported.
Gonzales mentioned he was ready for officers to rule out any felony conduct earlier than he spoke out over the tragedy.
“I don’t know precisely what occurred,” he mentioned at Thursday’s occasion. “Nobody’s contacted me. I haven’t contacted anybody. I’m genuinely untrusting of those retailers. 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 house 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 house.
She succumbed to her accidents at Brooke Military Medical Heart in San Antonio the following day. Santos-Aviles’s final phrases had been, “I don’t need to die,” Nora Gonzales advised the San Antonio Categorical Information.
Nora Gonzales recalled {that a} “distraught” Santos-Aviles referred to as her earlier simply earlier than setting herself on fireplace, saying that she wished 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 “utterly false.”
“I don’t assume it has any benefit,” Nora Gonzales advised The Publish.
The grieving mom advised The Publish she is not sure why her daughter doused herself in gasoline.
If you’re combating suicidal ideas or are experiencing a psychological well being disaster and stay in New York Metropolis, you may name 1-888-NYC-WELL without spending a dime and confidential disaster counseling. In case you stay outdoors the 5 boroughs, you may dial the 24/7 Nationwide Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
