Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is under federal investigation over alleged campaign finance violations involving campaign-funded family travel and other expenses, according to multiple reports.
ABC News, citing a person familiar with the matter, confirmed Tuesday that the Justice Department is investigating whether Gallego improperly used campaign funds for personal expenses. The probe was first reported by Axios.
According to the New York Post, the DOJ investigation stems from a whistleblower complaint filed in Southern California and centers on luxury trips and family travel allegedly financed with campaign donations.
The investigation surfaced just hours after the Senate Ethics Committee closed a separate inquiry into allegations of campaign finance violations and sexual misconduct involving the Arizona Democrat.
The committee informed Gallego this week that it found no evidence he violated Senate rules or applicable law. However, the committee’s decision does not prevent federal prosecutors from pursuing a separate criminal investigation under campaign finance laws.
According to multiple reports, investigators are examining campaign-funded travel involving Gallego and his family to destinations including the Caribbean, Miami, Nantucket and Puerto Rico. Records reviewed by Politico also showed campaign-funded travel to St. Barts, Chicago, Disneyland and Disney World, where Gallego reportedly attended political fundraising events and PAC retreats.
Politico also reported that Gallego used a joint fundraising committee with former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), known as the “Swallego Victory Fund,” to attend Super Bowl LVII in Arizona with his wife in 2023. Federal Election Commission filings reviewed by the outlet show the committee spent more than $37,000 on game tickets and meals while hosting a fundraiser around the event.
The outlet further reported that Gallego has spent roughly $18,000 from his campaign and political action committee on childcare since 2019, including a $400 payment to his mother-in-law for babysitting.
Campaign finance law does permit candidates to use campaign funds for childcare expenses that are incurred as a direct result of campaign activity. The Federal Election Commission has previously ruled that such expenses may be reimbursed when they would not otherwise have existed absent the campaign.
A source familiar with Gallego’s spending told Politico, “He just spends his campaign account like it’s his personal slush fund. He’s using campaign cash to live a luxury lifestyle.”
Gallego has denied any wrongdoing.
Following news of the federal investigation, a spokesperson for the senator accused the Trump administration of politically targeting him.
“[President] Trump is targeting Senator Gallego while the most weaponized Department of Justice in history is turning a blind eye to Trump’s unprecedented corruption,” the spokesperson told Axios.
“It’s the least surprising news of the week that this comes immediately after the Senate Ethics Committee cleared Senator Gallego of right-wing smears pushed by the administration,” the spokesperson added.
Gallego has also defended the campaign’s childcare expenditures, writing in a post on X last week that “the FEC has stated that childcare may be reimbursed.”
The Justice Department has not publicly commented on the investigation, and no charges have been filed. The federal probe remains ongoing.
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They Hate getting caught!
There are people from both parties ( but mostly from the democrats ) who are guilty of this.
It’s well past time to go after ALL of them!
It’s OUR money.
People donate their money for the ACTUAL campaign, not for them to live ‘high on the hog’.
There is an old baseball saying; “Throw the bum out”.
Do so!