The Justice Department (DOJ) launched an investigation into Democratic Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego on Monday for alleged campaign finance violations, reports show.
A source familiar said the federal probe originated from a “whistleblower complaint” out of Southern California, according to Axios. This comes after a Senate Ethics Committee misconduct complaint against Gallego was dismissed Monday. (RELATED: Trump Admin Vows Birth Tourism Crackdown After Birthright Citizenship Ruling)
Gallego used funds from a political action committee, or PAC, for personal leisure, including family trips to Miami, Chicago, Disneyland and Disney World, Politico previously reported, citing campaign finance documents and an individual familiar with the lawmaker’s spending.
Republican Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna alleged Gallego was responsible for sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations in April, leading to months of investigation before the committee concluded there was no evidence to support Luna’s claims.
“Let’s be clear. The only reason they’re doing this is because I hold this administration accountable,” Gallego said in a statement Tuesday. “Whether it’s trying to stop Trump’s dirty crypto deals or trying to stop the Trump brothers and all their dirty deals in Kazakhstan or to stop the payoffs of all these January 6th insurgents.”
He was apparently referring to a New York Times report alleging that Trump administration deals opening access to tungsten mines in Kazakhstan could result in profits for the Trump family as key investors.
Gallego also introduced an amendment in May that would have blocked the creation of Trump’s now-defunct anti-weaponization fund. The nearly $1.8 billion settlement fund was set up for individuals targeted by Biden-era weaponization of the government, but was halted by Congress in early June.
Just after a bipartisan Senate investigation cleared me of rightwing smears, Trump’s DOJ made me their latest target.
These corrupt people can come after me all they want.
They’re afraid. I’m not. And I’ll keep fighting back. pic.twitter.com/5D84XYsVUG
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) June 30, 2026
“[President] Trump is targeting Senator Gallego while the most weaponized Department of Justice in history is turning a blind eye to Trump’s unprecedented corruption,” a Gallego spokesperson told Axios, referring to the timing of the probe as “the least surprising news of the week.”
In 2023, Gallego also used a PAC organized by himself and former Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell — who stepped down after repeated allegations of sexual assault and harassment — to pay for Super Bowl tickets and meals totaling more than $37,000, according to Politico.
Gallego justified the spending by telling Fox News that the PAC had held a Super Bowl-connected fundraiser to raise money for Gallego’s campaign.
Gallego had also distanced himself from Swalwell following the allegations, saying that Swalwell had “lied” to him about his past despite having repeatedly been described as Swalwell’s “best friend.” (RELATED: Senate Ethics Panel Tosses Out Complaint Against Eric Swalwell’s Buddy Ruben Gallego)
Gallego’s team did not respond to the Daily Caller’s request for comment.