Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida accused Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona on Thursday of engaging in sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations, claims that Gallego has strongly denied. The dispute emerged amid a broader context of recent congressional ethics controversies involving other lawmakers.
Luna identified Gallego as the senator involved in “very disturbing” allegations she first alluded to on social media earlier in the week without naming him. She told CBS News’ program The Takeout with Major Garrett that some accusations are sexual in nature and others concern potential violations linked to campaign finances. However, Luna did not provide detailed specifics about the allegations.
According to Luna, Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s office confirmed to her that Gallego’s conduct is under investigation, though the Senate Select Committee on Ethics has not publicly acknowledged any formal inquiry into Gallego. A spokesperson for Gallego dismissed the accusations as “right wing conspiracy theories” propagated by a fringe member of Congress and stated that Gallego has not been contacted by the ethics committee.
Luna also connected Gallego to former Representative Eric Swalwell, who recently resigned amid sexual misconduct accusations, stating that a woman represented by attorneys intends to come forward with claims involving Gallego. Luna characterized the alleged incident as sexual and mentioned concerns related to purchasing someone for sex, emphasizing the seriousness of such conduct.
Gallego, who is married, has categorically denied any sexual misconduct or inappropriate behavior toward staff or others. He acknowledged prior friendship with Swalwell and admitted to being misled regarding Swalwell’s rumored behavior, but rejected knowing of any harassment or predatory actions by Swalwell.
Senate Majority Leader Thune said he was unaware if Luna’s allegations were credible but confirmed referral to the Senate ethics panel. The committee has yet to comment publicly on the matter.
This controversy follows the resignations of Swalwell and Republican Representative Tony Gonzales, both of whom faced serious allegations related to sexual misconduct or inappropriate relationships. Luna has publicly advocated for increased accountability for lawmakers accused of misconduct and indicated she expects further allegations against politicians in Congress.
Why it matters
The accusations against Senator Gallego arise amid heightened scrutiny of ethical behavior in Congress following multiple high-profile departures linked to misconduct. If substantiated, these allegations could lead to formal investigations and impact Gallego’s political standing. The situation also underscores ongoing bipartisan concerns about the culture and oversight of elected officials.
Background
In recent weeks, attention on congressional misconduct intensified after the resignations of Representatives Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales. Swalwell faced allegations of sexual assault and sending unsolicited nude photos, while Gonzales was accused of an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. These incidents have prompted calls for stronger enforcement of ethics rules in Congress, including by lawmakers such as Luna, who has raised alarms about additional possible allegations within the House and Senate.
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