Husband of Rep. Tony Gonzales Aide Who Fatally Set Herself on Fire Claims Politician ‘Abused His Power’ as He Speaks About Alleged Affair

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 been romantically involved with Rep. Tony Gonzales before 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 entering into a relationship 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 claimed she told him about the alleged relationship in 2024. The staffer said she later became depressed after her husband discovered the alleged affair, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Santos-Aviles died after an incident outside her home in Uvalde, Texas. Authorities ruled her death a suicide.

Five months after her death, Aviles said he decided to speak out in order to “clear his mother’s name” for their son. He told the newspaper that he separated from Santos-Aviles several months after he said he discovered text messages on her phone that he described as in nature. According to Aviles, the messages included requests for photos, and he believed the alleged relationship had lasted two to three weeks at the time he found the texts.

Aviles said he was frustrated that Gonzales, a father of six, promotes family and religious values while, he claims, denying wrongdoing. He also said he and Santos-Aviles tried counseling and attempted to repair their marriage.

Aviles said he wanted his wife to leave her job, but he claimed 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, which Aviles said happened three to four months after he discovered the alleged affair. He described Santos-Aviles as “noticeably depressed” after their split, saying she seemed increasingly “lost.”

Although her death was ruled a suicide, Aviles said he viewed what happened as a “cry for help” that turned tragic, rather than an intentional act.

Gonzales has denied the affair. In a statement to the New York Post on Wednesday, he said he would not engage in “personal smears” and would remain focused on border security and improving the lives of Texans. In the same statement, he described Santos-Aviles as a devoted public servant and credited her work with improvements in areas including school safety, healthcare, and rural water.