Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is reportedly under investigation by the Department of Justice over alleged campaign finance violations, according to a report published Monday by Axios.
The outlet reported that the federal investigation stems from a whistleblower complaint originating in California. A source familiar with the matter told Axios that the complaint alleges Gallego improperly used money from a Political Action Committee to finance personal travel.
According to the report, the complaint claims PAC funds were used to pay for trips to Miami, Chicago, Disneyland and Disney World that included members of Gallego’s family.
Axios also reported that Gallego’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the reported DOJ investigation.
The reported federal probe comes only days after the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed separate allegations of financial misconduct and inappropriate sexual conduct that had been brought against Gallego by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla.
Luna’s accusations followed the resignations of Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Tony Gonzales, R-Texas. Both lawmakers denied allegations of sexual misconduct against them.
In a letter dated June 26 and obtained by NBC News, the bipartisan Senate Ethics Committee informed Gallego that its investigation had concluded without finding evidence of wrongdoing.
“We are writing to inform you that the Select Committee on Ethics (the Committee) dismissed a complaint filed against you by Representative Anna Paulina Luna,” the six-member panel wrote.
The committee explained that it had investigated allegations involving both campaign finance issues and claims of inappropriate sexual conduct.
According to the letter, Gallego had requested an investigation into the accusations, prompting the committee to seek additional information from him on April 17 and again on May 15.
After completing its review, the committee concluded that it had not found evidence that Gallego violated federal law, Senate rules or related standards of conduct.
“Specifically, the complaint alleged campaign finance violations and inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature,” the committee wrote. “In response to your request for an investigation, the Committee referred these allegations to you and requested additional information on April 17 and May 15, 2026. 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.”
Following the committee’s decision, Gallego released a statement welcoming the dismissal of the complaint.
“Today’s dismissal 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.
He also called on Luna to apologize, accusing the Florida congresswoman of misusing the Senate ethics process while declining to investigate what he described as “historic corruption” affecting American families.
While the Senate Ethics Committee has dismissed the allegations brought by Luna, Axios reported Monday that the Department of Justice is now conducting a separate investigation tied to the whistleblower complaint alleging campaign finance violations. Gallego’s office had not publicly commented on the reported federal probe at the time of Axios’ report.
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