AUSTIN — U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican representing San Antonio’s far West Aspect, dismissed as false any “rumors” suggesting he had an improper relationship with Regina Santos-Aviles, an workplace staffer who died by suicide earlier this fall.
“The rumors are fully untruthful, and Regina’s household has requested for privateness,” Gonzales mentioned Thursday throughout a panel on the Texas Tribune Pageant moderated by Punchbowl Information Senior Congressional Reporter Andrew Desiderio.
Santos-Aviles died by suicide after setting herself on fireplace Sept. 13 at her Uvalde house, the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Workplace dominated earlier this week. She succumbed to her accidents the next day at Brooke Military Medical Middle.
The Every day Mail reported weeks later that Gonzales, a married father of six, and Santos-Aviles, his Uvalde regional district director, had been romantically concerned. The congressman’s district contains a big swath of South Texas, together with Uvalde.
Late final month, Uvalde Metropolis Lawyer Francisco J. Garza, in a letter to the Texas Common Lawyer’s workplace, refused to launch police calls and different information about Santos-Aviles’ dying to the press, saying the matter was “pending attainable felony prosecution.”
Nonetheless, attorneys representing Uvalde have since modified their tune and now keep the investigation will likely be closed in coming weeks with no felony expenses filed.
“I don’t know precisely what occurred,” Gonzales mentioned throughout Thursday’s dialogue. “Nobody’s contacted me. I haven’t contacted anybody. I’m genuinely untrusting of those retailers. I’m ready for the ultimate report.”
The Texas Tribune Pageant marks the primary time Gonzales has publicly addressed allegations that he had a relationship with Santos-Aviles. Earlier this week, the congressman dodged questions from KSAT when requested in regards to the claims throughout a Veterans Day ceremony.
Regardless of the swirl of reports reviews round Santos-Aviles’ dying, Gonzales mentioned he’s assured he’ll as soon as once more defeat YouTube gun influencer Brandon “AK-Man” Herrera, who’s difficult him within the Republican main.
Through the 2024 Republican Main for U.S. Home Texas District 23, Gonzales solely defeated Herrera, a political novice working beneath a MAGA flag, by 354 votes.
“I’ve crushed him a number of occasions, and I’ll beat him once more,” Gonzales mentioned. “In politics, we name them ‘zombies.’ You knock them down. They arrive again, and also you knock them down once more. It’s simply a part of the deal.”
Even so, Gonzales doesn’t seem like taking any possibilities. He’s assembled a warfare chest of greater than $2.5 million, in keeping with his newest marketing campaign finance submitting.
In the meantime, Herrera solely has a bit greater than $300,000 available.
“I’m gonna run, and I’m gonna maintain successful,” Gonzales mentioned.
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The Every day Mail reviews Gonzales, a married father of six, had a relationship with staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, who died after setting herself ablaze.
Gonzales has stored a low profile since staffer Regina Santos-Aviles died in mid-September after lighting herself on fireplace.
