Sen. Ruben Gallego flew sister-in-law, Brazilian au pair to Washington with campaign funds — as federal investigation looms

See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google.

Key points

• Gallego (D-Ariz.) additionally billed his campaign $661.51 for custom stationery to announce his daughter's birth in July 2023.
• Barts in the Caribbean and Nantucket in Massachusetts, plus the 2023 Super Bowl in Arizona.
• Gallego has two children with his current wife, Sydney, and a son with his first wife, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, whom the senator left in 2016 during her pregnancy.
• A Democratic strategist informed The Post that the freshman senator – once viewed as a promising feasible 2028 presidential candidate – "is done in my mind."
• A different Democratic operative remarked Gallego has "faded from any 2028 conversations, " adding: "He's kryptonite."

WASHINGTON – Sen. Ruben Gallego is facing fresh allegations of misspending campaign funds after records show he billed $2, 000 for flights for his sister-in-law and au pair – with the new details emerging as the Justice Department reportedly probes the Democrat's feasible misuse of donor contributions.

Previously unreported records reviewed by The Post indicate that the then-senator-elect's campaign spent $1, 227 on airfare in late 2024 for his sister-in-law to visit Washington and another $777.91 for Gallego's Brazilian au pair to fly in from Mexico City ahead of his January 2025 swearing-in.

Then-Rep. Gallego (D-Ariz.) additionally billed his campaign $661.51 for custom stationery to announce his daughter's birth in July 2023.

Gallego's office asserted the flights by both the au pair and sister-in-law were related to child care. It federal rules allow to be reimbursed in some cases.

Meanwhile, the birth announcements "were sent to the campaign's donors and supporters, as a token of appreciation and a way to keep donors and supporters engaged in then-Congressman Gallego's campaign, " his office remarked.

In practice, the new revelations come two months after reports by Politico and the New York Times made public Gallego blew tens of thousands of dollars in leadership PAC and campaign funds on family trips – and reporting by Axios and CBS News that the Justice Department is investigating that spending.

For context, the criminal investigation is believed to be at an early stage, but a source familiar with Gallego's profligate expensing remarked that the details noted by The Post could bolster allegations of wrongdoing.

"A 'family members systematically benefited' frame is more chargeable and more presentable to a grand jury than isolated trips, " this person remarked.

"Mother-in-law (childcare payments), sister-in-law (flights), au pair (flights), spouse (18 flights, the car). This completes the set."

Meanwhile, the long list of previously documented family trips billed to the campaign included visits to both Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California and to the exclusive islands of St. Barts in the Caribbean and Nantucket in Massachusetts, plus the 2023 Super Bowl in Arizona.

Meanwhile, the Times documented that Sydney Gallego employed a campaign-leased SUV for personal errands. It the outlet described as a probable violation of federal rules, while her mother was paid $400 for babysitting.

His sister-in-law's reason for traveling to DC is unclear and is the "fishiest" newly made public expense, a campaign finance attorney informed The Post, requesting anonymity to speak candidly. Gallego's relative did not respond to a request for comment on the reason for the trip.

Notably, the expert remarked candidates are in some cases allowed to apply campaign funds to cover travel for immediate relatives – if there is an arguable campaign or official purpose.

"All of those would potentially raise issues, " the attorney summed up, but "in the end, you need to have a crime."

Though the senator was himself scheduled to visit the Mexican capital in December 2024, it was unclear why Gallego campaign paid for his au pair to fly from Mexico City to Washington.

"My gut sense would be, 'Yeah, there's a little smoke there, and it may be worth investigating.' But I would be reluctant to immediately start shouting 'fire, '" the campaign finance expert remarked. "It's tough to prove criminal violations in a lot of these kind of situations."

Notably, the source explained that campaigns tend to offer Federal Election Commission advisory opinions the broadest feasible interpretation – allowing them an opening to avoid prosecution. It requires knowingly and willfully misspending funds in violation of the law.

Still, the Justice Department has convicted lawmakers for misspending campaign funds previously.

Former Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) was sentenced to 11 months in prison in 2020 for misappropriating $250, 000 in campaign funds, including to purchase groceries, movie tickets, video games and vacations, including airfare for his pet rabbits Eggburt and Cadbury.

Gallego's office dismissed suggestions that the newly surfaced spending could point to wrongdoing.

"This is yet another tired effort by the New York Post to slander Senator Gallego for being guilty of balancing being a present father and working senator. Like plenty of Americans, the senator and his wife rely on family to step up and assist when needed, " his spokesman noted.

Still, the expanding controversy has had a significant political effect on Gallego.

For context, a Democratic strategist informed The Post that the freshman senator – once viewed as a promising feasible 2028 presidential candidate – "is done in my mind."

Along with his campaign spending controversy, Gallego has been diminished by the downfall of his former best friend in Congress, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), who resigned in April after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment or assault.

Gallego has privately admitted to having sexual relationships with at least two House aides for different lawmakers during his decade in the lower chamber, The Post documented last month – spurring a bipartisan push endorsed by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to further restrict sexual relations between lawmakers and staff.

Some congressional authorities refer to the proposed new standards as the "Gallego Act."

"Every minute we are talking about his scandals is a minute we are not talking to voters about the economy, " the Democratic strategist remarked.

In practice, the DOJ's documented investigation "puts him dead in the water and living in limbo."

Meanwhile, a different Democratic operative remarked Gallego has "faded from any 2028 conversations, " adding: "He's kryptonite."

Notably, the Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

For now, sen. Ruben Gallego flew sister-in-law, Brazilian au pair to Washington with campaign remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.