In a shocking revelation, it has been alleged that Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) was involved in an extramarital affair with a senior aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, who tragically died after setting herself ablaze.
According to Breitbart, the incident occurred on September 13, when Santos-Aviles, the 35-year-old regional district director for Gonzales, succumbed to injuries after self-immolation at her residence in Uvalde, Texas.
The New York Post reported at the time, "Officials did not say whether she deliberately started the fatal blaze, but the Uvalde Police Department said it does not suspect anybody else was involved in her death or that there was any foul play."
Despite the police's statement, Santos-Aviles' family firmly believes the incident was accidental.
Surveillance footage obtained by investigators showed that Santos-Aviles was alone at the time of the fire. A family member quoted her alleged last words as, "I dont want to die." She left behind an eight-year-old son and a husband, from whom she had been separated for several months.
The Daily Mail reported that she had started a romantic relationship with Gonzales after joining his staff in November 2021. When questioned about the affair, a spokesman for Gonzales did not deny the allegations.
The spokesman for Gonzales told the Daily Mail, "Regina Aviles was a kind soul who had a lasting impact on her community, which she continued to serve until her untimely death. To see political bottom feeders distort the circumstances around her passing is truly sickening. Tony Gonzales remains laser-focused on delivering historic achievements for Texas and condemns any attempts to misuse this tragedy."
Interestingly, Gonzales, a married father of six, did not attend Santos-Aviles' funeral held on September 25. This absence was noted by several sources. One source revealed to the Daily Mail that Santos-Aviles' husband, Adrien Aviles, was aware of the affair at the time of her death.
Santos-Aviles and her husband had separated after he discovered the affair earlier this year, but they continued to co-parent their son. Adrien Aviles, who runs a video surveillance business, had installed cameras at Santos-Aviles' home, which captured the horrific event of her self-immolation. The footage was later handed over to the Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab by the Uvalde Police Department for review.
The Uvalde Police Department stated to the Daily Mail, "Regina Santos-Aviles was alone in her backyard when the fire began, which ultimately caused significant injuries and required her transport to the emergency room. At this stage of the investigation, we do not have any information to suggest that anyone else was involved."
In a recent development, the Uvalde Police Department has blocked the release of public records related to Santos-Aviles' death. They have informed state Attorney General Ken Paxton that they will be withholding the 911 call, the surveillance video, and police reports, petitioning to keep them sealed.
The Daily Mail noted, "The unusual move given that similar records are routinely released in active investigations, even when criminal charges are pending has fueled accusations of favoritism toward Gonzales, whose political influence looms large in Uvalde."
This tragic incident raises questions about the personal conduct of our elected officials and the potential misuse of power. It also underscores the need for transparency in investigations, especially when they involve public figures.
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