Senate Ethics panel dismisses misconduct complaint against Ruben Gallego

WASHINGTON — The Senate Ethics Committee has dismissed allegations of misconduct by Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., after conducting an investigation.

In a letter obtained by NBC News, the six committee members led by Chair James Lankford, R-Okla., and Vice Chair Chris Coons, D-Del., said the panel “did not find evidence” for the specific allegations given to the committee by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican.

“We are writing to inform you that the Select Committee on Ethics (the Committee) dismissed a complaint filed against you by Representative Anna Paulina Luna,” the senators wrote in a letter to Gallego.

The letter, dated June 26, was provided by a source familiar with the investigation and has not previously been reported.

“Specifically, the complaint alleged campaign finance violations and inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature. In response to your request for an investigation, the Committee referred these allegations to you and requested additional information on April 17 and May 15, 2026. Based on the investigation of the Committee, the Committee did not find evidence that your actions violated Federal law, Senate Rules or related standards of conduct.”

The committee said it considered information in the complaint, statements by individuals identified in it and campaign and congressional office expenditure reports.

The panel also “appreciated” Gallego’s “cooperation” throughout the probe, the letter said, while adding that it “retains the authority to revisit this matter should additional facts become known” to them.

Gallego has been engaging with the committee investigation and set up a legal defense fund last month to help pay the fees.

His office said Monday that he is maintaining the fund for outstanding legal fees.

Luna voiced her allegations publicly after news reports alleging that Gallego’s friend, then-Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., sexually assaulted and harassed multiple women. Swalwell, who resigned from Congress and apologized for “mistakes in judgment,” has also denied at least some of the allegations he faced.

Gallego has denied knowledge of those instances and said he was “lied to.”

Amid the Swalwell fallout, Luna wrote on X on April 23: “I have now heard of 4 women who have had multiple and uncomfortable/inappropriate advances/comments/touching, etc. from Senator Gallego. This is not made up and the Senate is being awfully quiet about it.”

Her complaints were referred to the Senate Ethics Committee.

Gallego responded Monday to the Ethics Committee letter.

“Today’s dismissal reaffirms what I have said about these accusations from the beginning: they were right-wing conspiracies peddled by far-right activists like Anna Paulina Luna, the White House, and their allies,” Gallego said in a statement. “I look forward to an apology from Rep. Luna for weaponizing the ethics process while refusing to investigate historic corruption that’s making life harder for families. In the meantime, I will continue fighting for Arizonans and holding Trump Republicans accountable for high costs and new wars.”

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