{"id":375741,"date":"2025-11-13T10:38:26","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T10:38:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/375741\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T10:38:26","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T10:38:26","slug":"san-antonio-u-s-rep-tony-gonzales-to-make-first-media-appearance-since-staffers-puzzling-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/375741\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales to make first media appearance since staffer’s puzzling death"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales represents a district that includes part of San Antonio and a wide swath of South Texas. Credit: Courtesy Photo \/ U.S. House of Representatives<\/p>\n

On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales will make his first public media appearance since the fiery death of one of his staffers. <\/p>\n

Gonzales \u2014\u00a0a Republican who represents San Antonio\u2019s far West Side plus a large swath of South Texas \u2014 is set for a one-on-one sit-down with Punchbowl News Senior Congressional Reporter Andrew Desiderio at the Texas Tribune Festival. The discussion will take place at the Austin Omni\u2019s Bridge Ballroom at 1:45 p.m. <\/p>\n

Gonzales has been keeping a low profile since the puzzling Sept. 14 death of Regina Santos-Aviles, 35, his office\u2019s Uvalde Regional District Director. Earlier this week, the Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled her death a suicide via self-immolation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Uvalde authorities responded to a call at Santos-Aviles\u2019 home Sept. 13 after she reportedly doused herself in gasoline and set herself ablaze. She was airlifted to San Antonio\u2019s Brooke Army Medical Center, where she died the following day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Weeks later, UK publication the Daily Mail reported that Gonzales, a married man with six kids, was having an affair<\/a> with Santos-Aviles before her death.\u00a0The congressman\u2019s office hasn\u2019t commented directly on the report.<\/p>\n

Late last month, Uvalde City Attorney Francisco J. Garza, in a letter to the Texas Attorney General\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\u00a0<\/p>\n

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

During a Veterans Day event, San Antonio TV station KSAT tried to get Gonzales to comment on Santos-Aviles\u2019 death and the alleged affair. However, the congressman refused.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear at press time what questions about the death and the Daily Mail report, if any, Gonzales may face at the Texas Tribune Festival.\u00a0<\/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

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

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe investigation contradicts what authorities previously said about the death of U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales\u2019 regional district director.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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

\n\t\t\t\t\tEven so, attorneys are still trying to block police reports and other records from being released to the public. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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