Gallego Establishes Legal Defense Fund Amid Misconduct Allegations
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) has set up a legal defense fund following accusations of misconduct made by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Florida), who has referred the issue to the Senate Ethics Committee. Gallego’s office has denied any wrongdoing and stated that they are cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
As reported by NBC News, Gallego launched the Sen. Ruben Gallego Legal Defense Fund to help cover the expenses related to addressing these allegations.
His press secretary, Jacques Petit, remarked that “Senator Gallego is under attack from right-wing conspiracy theorists like Anna Paulina Luna, as well as the Trump administration and its associates. The White House appears prioritizing the abuse of power and targeting political figures. Sen. Gallego will not stand for this.”
Additionally, Gallego’s team criticized Luna for not providing substantial evidence of any ethical misconduct, asserting that Gallego is fully compliant with the investigation process.
On April 23, Luna claimed there were multiple incidents involving four women who experienced inappropriate behavior from Gallego, insisting these are not fabrications and criticizing the Senate for remaining silent on the matter.
In a recent interview with CBS News, Luna mentioned that the allegations involved incidents “allegedly of a sexual nature” as well as potential campaign finance violations. She expressed that she had consulted with Sen. John Thune’s chief of staff to ensure that relevant information was being directed to those conducting the ethics investigation.
Gallego’s office previously dismissed these allegations, with a spokesperson describing them as conspiracy theories parroted by far-right lawmakers. They confirmed that Gallego had not been contacted by the Ethics Committee regarding these issues.
The situation surrounding Gallego’s allegations arose after previous claims against former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), who has since announced plans to resign from Congress amid similar accusations. While Swalwell has denied allegations of sexual misconduct and assault, Gallego, who had previously supported Swalwell’s campaign, later expressed regret for defending him prior to having all the information.
Reports from the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN indicate allegations from former staffers, noting that more than 50 former staff members signed a letter demanding accountability for Swalwell’s actions. On April 13, Gallego expressed his support for an investigation into Swalwell, stating he believed Swalwell should be expelled from Congress and claimed he was not aware of any misconduct against him.
Luna also mentioned her efforts to draft a resolution for Swalwell’s expulsion, claiming he had a notorious reputation among colleagues on Capitol Hill. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy noted Gallego’s close relationship with Swalwell during his campaign activities.
Furthermore, reports highlighted that Swalwell’s campaign had allegedly paid $40,000 to attorney Sara Azhari, who defended him on a media platform, and that inquiries into his campaign finances were being conducted in various jurisdictions.
