Senate Ethics drops misconduct inquiry into Gallego

Senate Ethics drops misconduct inquiry into Gallego

The Senate Ethics Committee has dismissed its inquiry into Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) over allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations, the senator's office announced Monday.

Why it matters: The decision is a win for Gallego, who is eyeing a 2028 presidential bid. Gallego has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

  • The Senate Ethics Committee, in a letter dated June 26, informed Gallego that it "did not find evidence" to support allegations raised by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) in April.
  • "Specifically, the complaint alleged campaign finance violations and inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature ... Based on the investigation of the Committee, the Committee did not find evidence that your actions violated Federal law, Senate Rules or related standards of conduct," the panel members wrote.

    • In a statement Monday, Gallego said: "The dismissal by the Ethics Committee reaffirms what I have said about these accusations from the beginning: they were right-wing conspiracies peddled by far-right activists like Anna Paulina Luna, the White House, and their allies."

  • Gallego added that he "looks forward" to an apology from Rep. Luna for "weaponizing the ethics process."
  • Luna's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but she shot back at Gallego on X, writing: "These are not conspiracy theories" and calling Gallego a "creep."

    • Gallego voluntarily met with the Senate Ethics Committee in April and said he would cooperate fully with its review, Axios previously reported.

  • The committee's dismissal means no ethics action will move forward related to those allegations. NBC News first reported that Ethics was dropping the inquiry.

    • Catch up quick: Luna told CBS News in April, without providing further details or evidence, "There is a woman that allegedly is coming forward with attorneys, wants to go on-record about an incident that occurred between the two of them at the same time, and the event was sexual in nature, allegedly," referencing former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif) and Gallego.

  • Swalwell resigned from Congress on April 14 after being accused by four women of sexual assault, harassment and rape, all of which he denies.
  • Gallego has publicly acknowledged that he was close friends with Swalwell. But he has denied any personal wrongdoing and said he had no knowledge of any wrongdoing on Swalwell's part, only acknowledging that he had heard rumors about Swalwell being "flirty" over the years of their friendship.

    • Separately, Politico reported earlier this month that Gallego used campaign funds to pay for luxury outings with his wife and child care expenses after launching his Senate campaign in 2023.

  • Gallego did not dispute using donor funds to pay for family travel or child care, telling Politico in a statement: "This is not breaking news."
  • He added: "With the rising costs of child care and the burden it has on the budgets of American families, Democrats and Republicans in Congress and the White House alike regularly travel with their wives and children, as is permitted by the FEC."

    • Axios reported earlier this month that Gallego had hired former Biden deputy press secretary Andrew Bates to focus on crisis communications, including any dealings with the Ethics Committee or fallout from Gallego's friendship with Swalwell.

    Editor's note: This story has been updated with comment from Luna.