{"id":48632,"date":"2025-11-13T22:52:15","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T22:52:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/48632\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T22:52:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T22:52:15","slug":"san-antonio-u-s-rep-tony-gonzales-denies-rumors-surrounding-fiery-suicide-of-staffer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/48632\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales denies ‘rumors’ surrounding fiery suicide of staffer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales speaks during a one-on-one discussion at the 2025 Texas Tribune Festival in Austin. Credit: Michael Karlis<\/p>\n

AUSTIN \u2014 U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican representing San Antonio\u2019s far West Side, dismissed as false any \u201crumors\u201d suggesting he had an improper relationship with Regina Santos-Aviles, an office staffer who died by suicide earlier this fall. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe rumors are completely untruthful, and Regina\u2019s family has asked for privacy,\u201d Gonzales said Thursday during a panel at the Texas Tribune Festival moderated by Punchbowl News Senior Congressional Reporter Andrew Desiderio.<\/p>\n

Santos-Aviles died by suicide<\/a> after setting herself on fire Sept. 13 at her Uvalde home, the Bexar County Medical Examiner\u2019s Office ruled earlier this week. She succumbed to her injuries the following day at Brooke Army Medical Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Daily Mail reported weeks later <\/a>that Gonzales, a married father of six, and Santos-Aviles, his Uvalde regional district director, were romantically involved.\u00a0The congressman\u2019s district includes a large swath of South Texas, including Uvalde. <\/p>\n

Late last month, Uvalde City Attorney Francisco J. Garza, in a letter to the Texas General Attorney\u2019s office, refused to release police calls <\/a>and other records about Santos-Aviles\u2019 death to the press, saying the matter was \u201cpending possible criminal prosecution.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, attorneys representing Uvalde have since changed their tune <\/a>and now maintain the investigation will be closed in coming weeks with no criminal charges filed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know exactly what happened,\u201d Gonzales said during Thursday\u2019s discussion. \u201cNo one\u2019s contacted me. I haven\u2019t contacted anyone. I\u2019m genuinely untrusting of these outlets. I\u2019m waiting for the final report.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Texas Tribune Festival marks the first time Gonzales has publicly addressed allegations that he had a relationship with Santos-Aviles. Earlier this week, the congressman dodged questions from KSAT when asked about the claims during a Veterans Day ceremony.<\/p>\n

Despite the swirl of news reports around Santos-Aviles\u2019 death, Gonzales said he\u2019s confident he\u2019ll once again defeat YouTube gun influencer Brandon \u201cAK-Guy\u201d Herrera, who\u2019s challenging him in the Republican primary. <\/p>\n

During the 2024 Republican Primary for U.S. House Texas District 23, Gonzales only defeated Herrera<\/a>, a political novice running under a MAGA flag, by 354 votes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve beaten him multiple times, and I\u2019ll beat him again,\u201d Gonzales said. \u201cIn politics, we call them \u2018zombies.\u2019 You knock them down. They come back, and you knock them down again. It\u2019s just part of the deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even so, Gonzales doesn\u2019t appear to be taking any chances. He\u2019s assembled a war chest of more than $2.5 million, according to his latest campaign finance filing. <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Herrera only has a little more than $300,000 on hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna run, and I\u2019m gonna keep winning,\u201d Gonzales said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"San\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Brandon Herrera for president,\u2019 shooter Robin Weston said in an online video posted before the mass shooting, which killed two children and injured 17 others.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Report:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Daily Mail reports Gonzales, a married father of six, had a relationship with staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, who died after setting herself ablaze.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"San\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tGonzales has kept a low profile since staffer Regina Santos-Aviles died in mid-September after lighting herself on fire.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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