Key facts
- Sen. Ruben Gallego's leadership PAC, Juntos PAC, received a federal grand jury subpoena on August 21.
- The subpoena is part of an ongoing criminal investigation into Gallego's alleged use of campaign funds for personal expenses.
- The Justice Department is investigating spending on items including family travel to Disneyland and Super Bowl tickets.
- The subpoena requested records related to activities around September 9, 2025, and previous Senate Ethics Committee findings.
- Gallego's spokesperson stated the PAC has complied with the subpoena and has "nothing to hide."
- The Senate Ethics Committee had previously dismissed its own inquiry into Gallego's spending in June.
The Justice Department has issued a federal grand jury subpoena to Senator Ruben Gallego's leadership PAC, Juntos PAC, as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into his alleged misuse of campaign funds for personal expenses. The subpoena, obtained by POLITICO and dated August 21 with a September 4 deadline, seeks records related to activities around September 9, 2025, and also requests information Gallego submitted to the Senate Ethics Committee regarding its own probe into similar allegations.
According to reports, the investigation is examining spending on luxury outings, including family travel to Disneyland and Super Bowl tickets. A source familiar with Gallego's spending habits told Politico that he uses campaign cash "like his personal slush fund" to live a luxury lifestyle. The "Swallego Victory Fund," a joint fundraising account with former Rep. Eric Swalwell, spent over $37,000 on Super Bowl LVII tickets and meals in 2023. Additionally, Gallego's PAC and campaign accounts have reportedly covered over $18,000 in childcare costs since 2019, including a $400 payment to his mother-in-law for babysitting.
Gallego's office, through spokesperson Jacques Petit, stated that the PAC has complied with the subpoena because it has "nothing to hide." Petit did not confirm if Gallego himself or his staff had also been subpoenaed. Gallego has previously defended his use of campaign funds for childcare, citing FEC rules that permit such expenses if not for personal use, and arguing for a Congress that reflects America's diversity. However, the DOJ's focus on theme park visits and payments to family members suggests a potential distinction between legitimate campaign expenses and personal use. The Senate Ethics Committee had dismissed its own inquiry into Gallego's spending in June, finding no evidence of wrongdoing.