Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego is facing renewed scrutiny after allegedly engaging in consensual intimate relationships with two House staffers during his time in Congress. The allegations surfaced in a New York Post report weeks after the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed a complaint filed by Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, with sources now claiming the panel never examined the reported relationships.
Report alleges intimate relationships with House aides
According to the New York Post, Gallego, who served nearly a decade representing Phoenix in the House, admitted to two consensual relationships with aides who worked for Texas Democratic lawmakers. A source told the publication they had recently learned about the relationships, while a second confirmed one of the alleged relationships. The report described the relationships as part of what one source called a broader “pattern of mistakes and missteps and judgment calls,” citing concerns over the power imbalance between an elected official and congressional staff. One of the women was reportedly in her 20s and significantly younger than Gallego at the time. Sources also told the New York Post that they believe both relationships occurred while Gallego was unmarried.
Ethics complaint dismissed before new claims surfaced
The allegations come shortly after the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed a complaint filed by Luna that accused Gallego of campaign finance violations and sexual misconduct. According to an insider, the committee, chaired by Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, “didn’t ask” about the alleged relationships because it was unaware of them, instead concentrating on the evidence Luna had submitted. “[The Senate Ethics Committee] looked in the wrong place,” the source said.
Confronted by reporters on Capitol Hill shortly after the New York Post report was published, Gallego declined to respond directly. “I’m not going to engage in gossip,” he said. When asked whether the report was accurate, he repeated, “I’m not going to engage in gossip.” Asked separately about the allegations, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told Fox News, “I’m not… I’m focused on this right now.”
Anna Paulina Luna renews criticism, revives allegations against Ruben Gallego
Luna has repeatedly accused Gallego of misconduct in recent months. During a CBS News interview on April 16, she claimed a woman was preparing to come forward about an alleged incident involving Gallego and former Rep. Eric Swalwell that was “sexual in nature, allegedly.” On April 23, Luna posted on X, “I have now heard of 4 women who have had multiple and uncomfortable/inappropriate advances/comments/touching, etc. from Senator Gallego.”
After the Ethics Committee dismissed her complaint, Gallego described the allegations as “right-wing conspiracies peddled by far-right activists like Anna Paulina Luna, the White House, and their allies” and demanded an apology.
Following the New York Post report, Luna wrote on X, “Time to resign. Glad people are going on record about this creep.”
Republican lawmakers swoop down on allegations
Republican lawmakers quickly seized on the report. Rep. Abe Hamadeh of Arizona wrote, “This scumbag doesn’t deserve the privilege of representing the people of Arizona. Ruben Gallego should follow his buddy Swalwell’s lead and resign.” (Swalwell resigned from Congress in April amid claims by multiple women that he had sexually harassed or assaulted them.)
“Congress needs to step up, do the right thing, and force expulsion,” said former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz.
Although Congress banned romantic relationships between lawmakers and their own staff members in 2018, relationships with staff employed by other congressional offices are not explicitly prohibited under House or Senate ethics rules. Sexual harassment and other inappropriate workplace conduct remain prohibited.
The allegations against Gallego have also revived attention on broader efforts to tighten congressional ethics standards following recent investigations involving other lawmakers, including former Rep. Jimmy Gomez, whose conduct came under scrutiny during a House Ethics Committee inquiry.