Senator Ruben Gallego Faces DOJ Investigation Over Campaign Spending After Senate Ethics Panel Dismisses Complaint

Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego is under federal investigation for suspected campaign finance violations tied to his campaign and political committee spending, Axios reported Monday, citing a source familiar with the probe.

The reported Department of Justice investigation stems from a “whistleblower complaint” out of Southern California, according to Axios. The Justice Department declined to comment to the outlet, and Gallego has denied wrongdoing.

A Gallego spokesperson told Axios the reported investigation is a partisan attack by the Trump administration and said it followed the Senate Ethics Committee’s dismissal of a separate inquiry into Gallego.

The reported federal probe comes after weeks of scrutiny over Gallego’s use of campaign and political action committee funds for travel, family-related expenses, fundraising events and child care. It also comes as Gallego has drawn national attention as a possible Democratic presidential contender in 2028.

On Monday, Gallego’s office released a letter from the Senate Select Committee on Ethics stating the committee would not move forward with a complaint involving “alleged campaign finance violations and inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature.” The June 26 letter stated that, based on the committee’s investigation, the panel “did not find evidence” that Gallego’s actions violated federal law, Senate rules or related standards of conduct.

“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 said in a statement reported by Axios. Gallego also said he looked forward to an apology from Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., for “weaponizing the ethics process,” according to the outlet.

Luna’s complaint had raised allegations involving campaign finance and alleged sexual misconduct. The allegations were publicly linked to Luna’s April claims referencing Gallego and former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), according to Axios. Gallego denied personal wrongdoing and voluntarily met with Senate Ethics Committee staff in April, according to Axios. The committee also stated that it retains authority to revisit the matter if additional facts become known.

The congressional ethics process is separate from any federal criminal investigation, the outlet reported.

The spending scrutiny centers in part on Gallego’s leadership PAC, JUNTOS PAC, and a former joint fundraising committee called the Swallego Victory Fund. As previously reported by California Globe, Federal Election Commission records list JUNTOS PAC as an active qualified leadership PAC sponsored by Gallego and registered on Nov. 14, 2024. FEC records show JUNTOS PAC had raised $1,442,706.26 and spent $1,192,841.80 from Jan. 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026.

FEC records identify the Swallego Victory Fund as a terminated joint fundraising committee registered on Oct. 5, 2022, with Gallego for Arizona and Swalwell for Congress listed as joint fundraising participants. The committee reported $0 in receipts and $767.49 in disbursements for Jan. 1 through Jan. 31, 2025, the final period shown on the FEC committee page.

Gallego for Arizona, his principal campaign committee, is listed by the FEC as an active Senate campaign committee. The committee reported $3,825,377.22 in receipts and $2,108,123.24 in disbursements from Jan. 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026.

The spending questions intensified after reports about Gallego’s use of campaign and PAC funds for family travel, Super Bowl tickets and child care. KJZZ reported that Gallego used campaign funds to pay for family trips, Super Bowl tickets and child care, citing Politico’s initial reporting. KJZZ reported that expenditures from JUNTOS PAC included about $1,500 on travel, lodging and meals at Disneyland and another $2,900 at Disney World.

Phoenix New Times reported that Gallego and Swalwell’s joint committee was used for a Super Bowl fundraising event in Glendale in 2023. According to the outlet, FEC records showed the Swallego Victory Fund spent $34,700 on Super Bowl tickets through two charges to Fox Corporation and Comcast NBC Universal, along with $2,175 for a “fundraising event and catering” at The Henry in Phoenix.

Fox 10 Phoenix reported that Gallego defended the spending as tied to campaigning and fundraising. The station reported that federal guidelines allow campaign funds to cover child care when tied to campaign activity and entertainment when tied directly to official duties or campaign events.

The Federal Election Commission states that campaign funds may not be converted to personal use, defined as using campaign funds to fulfill a commitment, obligation or expense that would exist regardless of a candidate’s campaign or duties as a federal officeholder. FEC guidance also states that campaign funds may be used for child care expenses incurred as a direct result of campaign activities, meals during face-to-face fundraising events, and travel for a candidate, spouse and minor children to functions directly related to a campaign or official duties. 

Gallego’s office has said the expenses were campaign-related and within federal rules. Critics have questioned whether the spending blurred the line between political activity and personal benefit, particularly as Gallego weighs his national political future.

As of Monday afternoon, no charges had been announced against Gallego in connection with the Axios-reported federal investigation.