Heartbroken Husband Breaks Silence: Wife’s Tragic Self-Immolation Linked to Congressman Affair Scandal

The husband of a congressional staff member, who tragically ended her life by self-immolation amid claims of an affair with her superior, has finally spoken out, sharing her last text messages.

Adrian Aviles alleges that his wife, Regina Aviles, was pressured into a relationship with Congressman Tony Gonzales. He also disclosed that she had begun consulting with attorneys about filing a sexual harassment claim.

Congressman Tony Gonzales, 45, serves Texas’s 23rd district. He has been married twice and is a father to six children with his current spouse.

Regina, at the age of 35, had been working as the regional district director for Gonzales in Uvalde since 2021. She passed away after setting herself on fire at her home on September 14 of the previous year.

The news of the alleged affair first surfaced in October 2025 through the Daily Mail. Initially, Gonzales did not refute the claims, but by November, he dismissed the rumors as untrue.

Now, five months following his wife’s devastating death, Adrian feels compelled to break his silence, expressing frustration over what he describes as Gonzales’ continued falsehoods.

‘The biggest lie that Tony has told is the affair. That is 100 percent true,’ Adrian told the Daily Mail on Wednesday.

Aviles is survived by her husband, Adrian, and their eight-year-old son. Her obituary described her as ‘a devoted mother, a loving daughter, sister, and wife and a loyal friend’

Congressman Tony Gonzales hosted Elon Musk in September 2023 as he toured the US-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas. The aide he allegedly had an affair with, Regina Aviles, can been seen on the right of Musk

The widower has his wife’s phone with 35,000 text messages between Aviles and Gonzales, Adrian’s lawyer explained.

‘We’re researching the avenues of recovery [damages] under the Congressional Accountability Act. That’s still an open question,’ San Antonio attorney Bobby Barrera told the Daily Mail. 

The romantic relationship between Gonzales and Regina began in 2022, a former Gonzales staffer who spoke to Daily Mail claims. The staffer shared a text message with Regina appearing to confirm the affair.

Adrian discovered the alleged betrayal in June 2025 after becoming suspicious of his wife and looking at her phone.

‘She looked up to him, you know, and for him [to] turn around and use that power to essentially, you know, I would call it coerce an affair,’ Aviles told Daily Mail. 

‘He had made a pass at her and she’d mentioned, she’d said something about, you know, him being her boss and that that was inappropriate.’

Adrian added that he texted several members of Regina’s office, as well as Gonzales, telling them he knew about the affair. 

After uncovering the cheating, Adrian claims he and Regina tried to save their marriage and attended counseling, but he finally had enough because she wouldn’t quit her job and Gonzales’ team wouldn’t fire her. 

‘They were smart enough not to fire her because they knew the ramifications of that,’ he said.

Aviles referenced her alleged affair with her then-boss Congressman Tony Gonzales in a text message to a friend who shared this text conversation with the Daily Mail

Regina Aviles, 35, poured gasoline over herself before becoming engulfed in flames at her home in Uvalde, Texas, on September 13

‘They were like, “Take a month off. Don’t worry about anything. We’ll take care of everything for you.” The motto around there is protect Tony at all costs, and even at that all cost is lying.’

Regina continued to work for Gonzales after her entanglement with her boss became known, although they took more and more work and responsibilities away from her, Adrian alleged.

During his hour-long interview with the Daily Mail, Adrian said he wanted to clear up misinformation about his wife’s death, including that she intended to kill herself. 

According to police, Regina doused herself with gasoline and set herself on fire in her backyard on Sept. 13. 

‘Was Regina spiraling – yes. The ramifications of what Tony did, you know, and it causing this whole split within our family. It wore down on her so much,’ Adrian told Daily Mail. 

‘She did not want this to happen. This is something that was an accident. It was something that went too far. Regina loved her son so much. She would never do this purposely.’

Adrian’s attorney, who sat next to him during the interview, revealed that Regina did not intentionally set herself on fire by putting a match or another heat source up to her body.

‘I think she was attempting to send a message, and I don’t think she expected the vapor from the gasoline to ignite with what she was doing,’ Adrian’s attorney explained.

US Representative Tony Gonzales, pictured in a campaign photo with his wife and six children presenting himself as a family man had two trysts in a cabin with a married aide before her suicide, a friend alleged 

She was found engulfed in flames at her Uvalde home (above) on September 13. Investigators determined she was home alone at the time

A video of Regina’s death does exist, as her Uvalde home was equipped with surveillance cameras. 

‘I’ve seen the video, and my opinion, this was an outcry for help,’ the attorney added.

Her death was ruled a suicide by the San Antonio medical examiner.

Daily Mail was first to obtain the autopsy, which revealed that she was drunk at the time she poured gasoline on herself.

The revelations come as early voting has started in Texas and Gonzales is locked in a bitter re-election race. 

He faces an uphill climb in the GOP primary against rival Brandon Herrera who nearly beat Gonzales two years ago.

 Herrera has called on Gonzales to step down because of his affair with his staffer.

‘This is completely unacceptable behavior for anyone, let along a sitting member of Congress. Tony must step down,’ Herrera tweeted on Wednesday.

Gonzales did not respond to Daily Mail’s request for comment about Adrian’s allegations.

For help and support contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on 988