U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales’ hasn’t responded to the Current’s request for comment about a British newspaper’s report that he had an affair with the staffer. Credit: Twitter / @TonyGonzales4TX
The fiery death of an aide to U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican representing San Antonio’s far West Side plus a swath of South Texas, is now part of a criminal investigation, the Express-News reports.
Initially, authorities, including Uvalde Police Chief Homer E. Delgado, told reporters there was “no indication” of foul play in the death of Regina Santos-Aviles, Gonzales’ regional district director. The 35-year-old died last month after she lit herself on fire at her Uvalde home.
However, when the Express-News and other outlets asked Uvalde and Bexar County for documents pertaining to Santos-Aviles’ death, including 911 calls, police reports and witness statements, the Texas Attorney General’s Office refused.
In a letter to the AG’s office, Uvalde City Attorney Francisco J. Garza wrote that the requested documents couldn’t be released because the case was “pending possible criminal prosecution” and was therefore exempt from the Texas Public Information Act, the daily reports.
Garza also noted that the police investigation into Santos-Aviles’ death “is ongoing and has yet to be completed,” according to the Express-News.
Word that the death of Gonzales’s staffer is under criminal investigation comes a little more than a week after British paper the Daily Mail reported that Gonzales, a husband and father of six, was in a “romantic relationship” with Santos-Aviles prior to her Sept. 14 death.
Gonzales’ office hasn’t responded to the Current’s request for comment about the Daily Mail report. However, a Gonzales spokesperson accused “political bottom feeders” of distorting elements of Santos-Aviles’ death.
Gonzales is up for reelection next year to represent Texas’ 23rd District and faces a challenge in the Republican primary from YouTube gun-influencer Brandon Herrera, also known by his online moniker, “the AK-Guy.”
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