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The husband of Regina Santos-Aviles, a congressional aide who died after setting herself on fire last year, is speaking publicly after reports alleged she had a romantic relationship with Rep. Tony Gonzales prior to her death.

In an interview with the San Antonio Express-News on Wednesday, Feb. 18, Adrian Aviles, 40, said Gonzales “abused his power” by allegedly becoming romantically involved with Santos-Aviles, who served as Gonzales’ regional district director. Aviles and Santos-Aviles shared an 8-year-old son.

A former staffer who worked closely with Santos-Aviles previously told the Express-News that she had described a romantic relationship with Gonzales in 2024 and later became depressed after her husband discovered the alleged affair.

On Sept. 13, 2025, Santos-Aviles reportedly poured gasoline on herself outside her home in Uvalde, Texas, and was later engulfed in flames. She died the next day.

Five months after her death, Aviles said he chose to speak out to “clear his mother’s name” for their son. He told the Express-News that he separated from his wife three to four months after he said he discovered the alleged affair by seeing text messages on her phone.

“I said the truth would come to light when it’s time, and the time is now,” Aviles told the outlet. He added that he hoped Gonzales would “be accountable” and said the congressman should have held himself “to a higher standard.”

According to the Express-News, the messages Aviles said he found were “very sexual in nature” and included requests for Santos-Aviles to send photographs of herself. Aviles claimed the relationship had been going on for two to three weeks at that point. He also criticized Gonzales, a father of six, for promoting “family values and Christian morals” while denying the alleged relationship, saying it had “ruined somebody’s life.”

Aviles said he and Santos-Aviles attempted to repair their marriage through counseling. He said he wanted her to leave her job, but she refused because she felt responsible for the communities she served. The couple had been together for 21 years and married for seven when they separated. Aviles said Santos-Aviles wanted to reconcile, but after the split she “progressively just started spiraling,” appearing “noticeably depressed” and “lost,” according to his account.

Although her death was ruled a suicide, Aviles said he viewed it as “a cry for help” rather than an intentional act. “It was a cry for help that turned into a tragedy,” he said.

Gonzales, who has previously denied an affair, responded in a statement to the New York Post on Wednesday that he would not “engage in these personal smears” and would remain focused on border security and improving life for Texans. In the same statement, he described Santos-Aviles as “a kind soul” who devoted herself to community improvements, citing efforts related to school safety, healthcare, and rural water.