The Department of Justice is investigating Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona for alleged campaign finance violations, NOTUS has confirmed.
The announcement comes just hours after the Senate Select Committee on Ethics dismissed a complaint filed against Gallego, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Florida) over allegations of sexual misconduct and improper use of campaign funds.
“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 spokesperson for Gallego told NOTUS in a statement. The spokesperson added that it was not “surprising” that the news came after the ethics panel dismissal.
The investigation began recently and involves potential campaign finance violations, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the details publicly.
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The Justice Department declined to comment on this story. Axios first reported the details of the investigation.
Gallego has been scrutinized for his fundraising operations covering his family’s personal expenses.
Politico reported that the senator had used campaign funds on luxury trips with his family and on child care. Gallego defended the practice, saying on X that fundraising tends to take place in “nice venues.”
“It’s where the donors are, and it’s part of campaigning. I know people have opinions on that, but that’s the nature of the campaign system we have in our country,” Gallego said.
His campaign attorney and leadership PAC treasurer, Roy Herrera, quietly formed a nonprofit organization in February despite concerns that were raised with Gallego about the entity potentially violating campaign finance rules, NOTUS first reported. Nonprofits are barred from coordinating with campaigns. Any nonprofit action linked to a public official could result in federal prosecution.
Gallego’s spokesperson told NOTUS that the senator and his campaign team “stay within the rules and stick to widely used best practices.”
President Donald Trump has previously made threats to prosecute his political opponents and prominent critics. He has called for investigations into Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) and Adam Schiff (D-California), and accused Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan) of sedition “punishable by death” after they appeared in a video urging military and intelligence community members that they should refuse “illegal” orders.
Earlier this month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, another likely Democratic 2028 contender, said Trump had ordered the Justice Department to investigate him and his wife. The governor said the probe was a baseless effort to unearth criminal misconduct after a prosecution of his former chief of staff failed to turn up evidence of wrongdoing.
Like other Democrats who have been investigated by the Trump administration, Gallego has a legal defense fund.
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