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Husband of GOP rep aide who fatally set herself on fire has broken his silence on affair
Warning: This article may contain some distressing information
The husband of Regina Santos-Aviles, the former aide to Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) who tragically set herself on fire in 2025, has spoken out publicly for the first time about the alleged affair between his wife and the congressman.
In a heartfelt interview with the San Antonio Express-News, Adrian Aviles opened up about the pain of discovering his wife’s affair with the lawmaker and the devastating impact it had on her mental health.
He emphasized that Gonzales, who was married at the time, should have known better than to engage in a romantic relationship with Santos-Aviles, a subordinate in his office.
"Tony abused his power," Aviles said. "He should have held himself to a higher standard as a congressional leader."
Santos-Aviles' Tragic Death
Santos-Aviles, 35, was found critically burned in her Uvalde backyard on September 13, 2025, after she reportedly set herself on fire.
She succumbed to her injuries the following day. Her death was ruled a suicide by the Bexar County Medical Examiner.
Aviles revealed that he first learned of the affair on May 31, 2024. After returning home from a jiu-jitsu class, he saw his wife texting Gonzales. When he confronted her, she warned him that he "wasn’t going to like what you see".
Aviles recalled that the texts were “very sexual in nature” and indicated the affair had been ongoing for at least two weeks. This revelation led to the couple’s separation in the months that followed.
"I couldn’t bear to sit by and listen to Gonzales lie about my wife," he explained, accusing the congressman of "ruining somebody’s life."
The distraught husband has also criticized Gonzales for attempting to deny the affair, despite evidence of the relationship.
Per CBS News, Gonzales acknowledged that Santos-Aviles was a "kind soul" who made important contributions to her community but did not comment directly on the affair allegations.
“Her efforts led to improvements in school safety, healthcare, and rural water like never before," he said. “It’s shameful that [primary rival] Brandon Herrera is using a disgruntled former staffer to smear her memory and score political points, conveniently pushing this out the very day early voting started."
Political Fallout and Calls for Resignation
For the lawmaker, this affair has become a point of contention in his re-election campaign.
The Republican congressman, who is running for a fourth term in Texas’ 23rd district, has already denied the affair in previous public statements.
"The rumors are completely untruthful," he told a local station in November. However, he did not dispute the text message Santos-Aviles sent to a colleague, in which she acknowledged the affair and said: "I had an affair with our boss and I’m fine."
In response to the growing controversy, some of Gonzales' political opponents have called for his resignation.
GOP state Rep. Wes Vidrell stated that if the affair allegations were true, Gonzales should step down.
"This is completely unacceptable behavior for anyone, let alone a sitting member of Congress," Vidrell said on social media.
Santos-Aviles’ Struggles After Affair Exposed
Former colleagues of Santos-Aviles have shared their concerns about her mental state in the months after the affair was exposed. According to one former aide, she became "noticeably depressed" and "lost".
Aviles confirmed that his wife had struggled with her emotional well-being after the affair was revealed, even threatening to take her own life a month before her tragic death.
On the night of her suicide, the late woman, who was reportedly removed from key responsibilities and cut off from the congressman's inner circle, sent a message to her husband.
“She reached out to me, told me she loved me, and that, you know, she wanted to work things out,” Aviles said. “She wanted her family back.”
She also sent a video to one of her husband’s friends. Aviles did not explain what the footage was about, other than noting that it left him worried.
Aviles said after receiving the messages, he asked his mother-in-law to check in on her daughter, but by the time she did, it was too late.
“I don’t think that it was an intentional act,” he said. “I think it was a cry for help. It was a cry for help that turned into a tragedy... I don’t believe that she knew what she was doing. I don’t believe that she knew the true ramifications.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.