Sen. Ruben Gallego (D) is denying at least one allegation of sexual misconduct that has come up against him.
Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna told CBS News on Thursday that she referred “sexual in nature” misconduct allegations about Gallego to Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
“Without, I guess, getting too graphic, there is a woman that allegedly is coming forward with attorneys, wants to go on record about an incident that occurred between the two of them at the same time, and the event was sexual in nature, allegedly,” said Luna. “I think any time that you are knowingly engaging in purchasing someone for sex, that that is something that should be taken seriously.”
NEW: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) is accusing Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) of misconduct, telling CBS News’ Major Garrett her office has provided Senate Majority Leader Thune’s staff with allegations related to Gallego that are “sexual in nature.” CBS News has reached out to… pic.twitter.com/z4L54nix3v
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 16, 2026
Thune did confirm that those allegations were referred to the Senate Select Committee on Ethics for review.
Luna may or may not have been referring to the same allegation of a former staffer posted by a former congressman who’d represented New York, George Santos. This unnamed staffer has purportedly confided in Santos and plans to go public.
Can someone in law enforcement send a preservation of records notice to @RubenGallego? He’s going to scrub shit like Hillary did.
— George Santos (@Georgesantos) April 16, 2026
A Gallego spokesperson denied the accusation as one of several “right wing conspiracy theories” lobbed against the senator, and further added that they had yet to receive any notice of an investigation from the ethics committee.
“These are right wing conspiracy theories being parroted by a fringe far right member of Congress. Senator Gallego has not received notification or been contacted by the ethics committee,” stated the spokesperson.
Gallego also denies being the man next to Swalwell kissing and groping another woman on a bed in a video.
The senator was also accused in other media reports of misspending campaign cash for the personal expenses of his wedding, but that claim was debunked quickly.
The Gallego campaign says their June 7, 2021 payment had nothing to do with his wedding in Puerto Rico (which was at the Hyatt). Instead the $2,000 payment was a scheduled deposit for a September political event held at the Fairmont. https://t.co/xudJwKzjcC pic.twitter.com/u6ocVj6oMN
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) April 16, 2026
The finger-pointing at Gallego came about a day after Luna initially urged Thune in a post to investigate “very disturbing” allegations against a certain, unnamed senator.
It’s seems like the Senate has its own trash to take out. @LeaderJohnThune You need to look into the allegations against one of your Senators, it’s very disturbing. My chief will be contacting your chief.
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) April 15, 2026
The feeding frenzy to uncover more sexual exploits in Congress kicked off with the allegations against California’s star Democratic candidate for governor, Eric Swalwell. The former congressman faces multiple accusations concerning sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape.
Swalwell and Gallego were considered “best friends” for a decade. Gallego served as the chairman of Swalwell’s 2020 presidential campaign. Gallego himself has opened up about his own aspirations to run for president in 2028.
On Monday, Gallego urged Swalwell’s expulsion less than half an hour before Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress. Gallego’s statement he denied any knowledge of Swalwell’s wrongdoing.
I support the ethics committee’s investigation and believe Eric Swalwell is no longer fit to be a Member of Congress. He should be expelled from Congress.
I want to be clear: I had no knowledge of the allegations of assault, harassment, and predatory behavior against Eric…
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) April 13, 2026
The Swalwell frenzy was preceded by another incident of sexual impropriety involving a former Republican congressman from Texas, Tony Gonzales. He was accused of having an affair with one of his staffers who died by self-immolation last September.
Up until last month Gonzales denied the affair. Even with his admission, the momentum for accountability in Gonzales’s case didn’t pick up until after the allegations against Swalwell emerged late last week. Gonzales only resigned after Swalwell did; both took that step to avoid expulsion.
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