The Department of Justice, under President Donald Trump, has opened a secret investigation into Arizona Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego for suspected campaign finance violations. The probe comes after reports detailed Gallego's use of campaign funds for personal expenses, including family travel and luxury events.
The investigation was revealed following a report by Axios. The Department of Justice has not commented on the matter. Gallego's spokesperson stated that "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 also characterized the timing of the investigation, which follows Gallego's clearance in a separate Senate Ethics Committee review, as unsurprising.
Earlier reports from Politico detailed how Gallego spent thousands of dollars from his political donors on travel and luxury events since launching his U.S. Senate bid in 2023. These expenses included travel for his family to destinations such as Florida and Illinois, as well as visits to Disney properties in California and Florida. His political accounts also reimbursed him over $18,000 for child-care costs dating back to 2019, including a $400 payment to his wife's mother for babysitting services.
Michael LaRosa, a former spokesman for Jill Biden, publicly stated he had requested and received a refund of his contribution to Gallego, urging other donors to review the reporting.
Filings also indicated that Gallego and his wife used a joint political account, the "Swallego Victory Fund," which he shared with former California Representative Eric Swalwell, to attend the 2023 Super Bowl in Arizona. The PAC was later disbanded.
Campaign finance regulations permit the use of political funds for expenses connected to campaign or official activity, with looser restrictions for leadership PACs. Gallego has defended the expenses, citing the financial strain of child care on working families and stating that elected officials from both parties frequently travel with their spouses and children, using campaign funds for child care when permitted by federal rules. He told Politico that the expenses were permitted and were not "breaking news."