by Staff Reporter | Apr 17, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
A former congressman says Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) was among those alleged to have engaged in well-known secret sexual romps at the nation’s capital.
New York’s former Republican congressman George Santos posted the accusation against Gallego to X on Monday.
Santos claimed that it was a regular practice for some U.S. House and Senate members to engage in “lewd or alleged sexual misconduct-like behavior with staff or reporters” in the House office buildings’ basement storage rooms, nicknamed “cages.”
A report to the House Administration Chair, Republican Wisconsin Rep. Bryan Steil, went nowhere, according to Santos.
“[O]ver the course of my time on Capitol Hill I learned a lot of members had rumors and or allegations against them,” said Santos. “[T]hese were rumors, and I wasn’t the only one to hear them. They were just instances where we would talk about them amongst ourselves and just shrug our shoulders because there was not much more we could do.”
Santos and Gallego had neighboring offices when their time in Congress overlapped. Their offices were connected by an internal door between the two.
The Santos allegation came out amid sexual assault and impropriety allegations against Eric Swalwell, the now-resigning California congressman who suspended his gubernatorial campaign.
Swalwell and Gallego were known “best friends” for years. The pair spent a significant amount of time together outside of their elected duties; extracurriculars per insiders included bar-hopping around D.C.
Gallego has not addressed the Santos allegation.
Santos’ claims have not been confirmed; the former congressman does have a prominent history of fabrication.
Santos himself was expelled from Congress following a House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations of fraud. Gallego was one of many from both parties to vote in favor of expulsion. Santos also faced a federal indictment; ultimately, he pleaded guilty to identity theft and fraud. President Donald Trump commuted Santos’ prison sentence last year.
The House Ethics Committee announced an investigation into Swalwell on Monday.
After the committee announcement, Gallego advocated for the expulsion of his former longtime friend from Congress. Gallego denied any prior knowledge of allegations of assault, harassment, or predatory behavior.
“I trusted someone who I believed was a friend, but it is now clear that he is not the person I thought I knew,” said Gallego. “The women who have come forward have shown courage. They deserve to be believed, to be supported, and to see justice served.”
That statement was “pure projection,” alleged Santos. The former congressman demanded another investigation, this time into Gallego.
The town attorney for Fountain Hills and former assistant attorney general, Jennifer Wright, said an investigative reporter needed to look into the allegation against Gallego.
Gallego revoked his gubernatorial endorsement of Swalwell last week shortly after the release of a report detailing sexual assault allegations against Swalwell.
Prior to the report, when the allegations were confined to rumors swirling the social media echo chamber, Gallego had initially come to Swalwell’s defense. Gallego dismissed those early allegations as politically motivated attacks.
AZ Free News reached out to Sen. Gallego regarding the accusations from George Santos. As of this report, no response has been received.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 17, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona homeowners will receive expanded protection against deed and title fraud under Senate Bill 1479, which Gov. Katie Hobbs signed into law last week after it received unanimous support in the Arizona Senate.
The bipartisan legislation was sponsored by Arizona Senate Majority Whip Frank Carroll (R-LD28) and co-sponsored by Reps. Selina Bliss (R-LD1) and Patricia Contreras (D-LD12). The bill was also backed by Maricopa County Assessor Eddie Cook, Gov. Katie Hobbs, and Attorney General Kris Mayes.
SB 1479 establishes new requirements for recording property documents, creates a statewide alert system for property owners, increases criminal penalties for fraudulent filings, and repeals an Arizona law that critics said could allow forged deeds to become legally valid if left uncontested for five years.
According to Maricopa County officials, deed fraud is a growing concern nationwide. Fraudsters can use forged signatures and fraudulent documents to transfer property ownership or attempt to secure a loan against a home they do not own, sometimes before the actual owner becomes aware of the transfer.
In a February statement, Carroll said, “Property ownership is the cornerstone of financial security for families, seniors, and small businesses in Arizona. When criminals are able to forge documents, record false claims, or quietly transfer property without the rightful owner’s knowledge, it erodes trust in our entire system.”
According to the Phoenix Business Journal, a 2025 survey by the National Association of Realtors found that Arizonans lost nearly $50 million to real estate fraud in 2024.
“A home is often a family’s most important investment, both financially and emotionally,” Cook said in a statement. “Deed fraud robs people of far more than property; it steals their sense of security.”
Under the new law, anyone recording a document in person at a county recorder’s office will be required to provide photo identification, with exemptions for certain professionals, including escrow officers, attorneys, and financial institutions.
The legislation also requires county assessors to create an opt-in property alert system by Jan. 1, 2027. The system will notify homeowners whenever the ownership status of their property changes or when the mailing address associated with the property is changed.
SB 1479 also expands the information required on an Affidavit of Legal Value. Buyers and sellers will now be required to provide mailing addresses and phone numbers, while email addresses will remain optional.
The measure also increases the penalty for filing false property documents from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class 5 felony to reflect “the severity and financial harm caused by deed fraud,” according to a release from the County Assessor’s Office.
The bill also repeals Arizona Revised Statute §12-524, the law at issue in the Arizona Supreme Court case Dominguez v. Dominguez, a prominent forged deed dispute. Critics argued the law created a loophole under which a forged deed could become legally valid if it was not challenged within five years.
In addition, notaries will now be required to obtain a thumbprint in their journal for most deeds and real estate documents. Remote notarizations are exempt if video recordings verifying the signer’s identity are retained for at least seven years.
Cook said the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office began prioritizing deed fraud prevention in 2024 and hosted a seminar last year with county officials, industry representatives, and lawmakers to discuss the issue and develop legislative solutions.
Cook said the new law provides “the early alerts, verification safeguards, and legal teeth we need to stop criminals before harm is done.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Ethan Faverino | Apr 17, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman Abraham Hamadeh (AZ-08) thanked his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives for the unanimous passage of his legislation to rename the United States Postal Service facility at 12208 North 19th Avenue in Phoenix as the “Officer Zane T. Coolidge Post Office.”
The bill, H.R. 3393, honors Phoenix Police Officer Zane Coolidge, who was shot in the line of duty on September 3, 2024, while responding to a larceny call near 16th Street and McDowell Road. Despite the heroic efforts of medical personnel, Officer Coolidge succumbed to his injuries three days later, on September 6, 2024, at the age of 29.
Officer Coolidge, a devoted husband and loving father, was a dedicated public servant who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting his community. The suspect in the shooting was a man with multiple felony convictions who was on parole at the time of his crime.
The post office selected for renaming holds special significance: it is located across the street from Thunderbird High School, where Officer Coolidge graduated in 2013.
“The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association is deeply grateful for Congressman Hamadeh’s leadership in honoring fallen Phoenix Police Officer Zane Coolidge through the renaming of a United States Post Office,” stated President of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association Darrell Kriplean. “Officer Coolidge represented the very best of our profession and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his community. This designation serves as a lasting and meaningful tribute to his life, his service, and his legacy, while reflecting our community’s enduring respect for those who serve.”
“We also extend our sincere appreciation to Congressman Hamadeh for his continued commitment to law enforcement,” continued Kriplean. “His steadfast advocacy helps ensure that officers across Arizona have the support and resources necessary to protect and serve their communities.”
Congressman Hamadeh stated, “Officer Coolidge was a husband, brother, son, and father who died a hero. A true public servant, he sacrificed his life to fulfill his duty to protect and serve. Naming this facility in honor of Officer Coolidge is a small token of the tremendous appreciation we have for him and the countless men and women who have given our communities their last full measure of devotion.”
“I am proud to stand with the men and women of our police agencies. They deserve our full support and devotion,” concluded Congressman Hamadeh. “The sacrifice they and their families make to keep our communities free from crime is immeasurable and not to be taken for granted.”
This action will serve as a permanent memorial to Officer Coolidge’s service, sacrifice, and deep connection to the Phoenix community where he grew up and served.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Apr 16, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) announced he has raised nearly $3 million to date, and has over $1 million cash on hand.
Following the aggregate donations of multiple contributors, the biggest donations to Biggs’ campaign came from Biggs’ federal campaign, Biggs2016, amounting to $50,000, and the Freedom Club PAC which gave over $16,000.
Arizona campaign funding data reports fellow Republican congressman and gubernatorial candidate David Schweikert as having raised nearly $900,000, and having nearly $300,000 cash on hand.
Schweikert’s top donors came from Schweikert’s own coffers. $572,00 came from Schweikert’s federal campaign committee, Friends of David Schweikert. $115,000 came from Schweikert himself.
Even combined, the pair doesn’t come close to the amount in the Democratic governor’s campaign coffers.
Incumbent Gov. Katie Hobbs has raised over $5.7 million since last year, and has over $6 million in cash on hand.
Unlike Biggs and Schweikert, Hobbs had multiple large donors outside of multiple contributor aggregates, mainly unions: Unite Here Tip Campaign Committee ($11,000), United Food and Commercial Workers Union of Arizona Local 99 ($11,000), AFSCME People ($11,000), Arizona Education Association ($11,000), and Hollywood star Jennifer Garner ($10,000).
Hobbs also received nearly $250,000 in non-contribution income from Copper State Values, a political action committee established and chaired by Hobbs’ campaign manager, Nicole Demont.
Demont established the PAC in December 2024, and teamed up with leading dark money handler Dacey Montoya (“The Money Wheel”), who serves as the PAC’s treasurer. Funds from the PAC began benefitting Hobbs’ campaign last June.
Other than a few contributions to outside organizations, it appears Copper State Values functions as a funding arm for the Hobbs campaign.
Copper State Values has made payments to a number of companies which Hobbs has paid for services, including $150,000 to the California-based Capital Strategies, which has Hobbs listed under its clientele; nearly $7,000 to Pingdex for calls; and $40,000 to Monteverde Strategies.
The non-contribution income covered shared expenses between the Hobbs campaign and the PAC: acquisition, office supplies, insurance, professional services, rent, finance consulting, payroll, postage, mailers, utilities, fuel, food and beverage, fundraising event, travel, and health insurance.
Multiple donations came from the health sector: Centene Management Company, the Missouri-based largest Medicaid managed care organization in the nation; PhRMA, the D.C.-based biopharmaceutical trade association; 7WireVentures, an Illinois-based backer of digital health companies; Paradise Valley healthcare executive Reginald Ballantyne; Scottsdale-based Priority Ambulance; Ohio-based Elevance Health; UnitedHealth Group; CVS Health.
Others donations coming from special interests included Google, NextEra Energy Resources, a Florida-based wholesale electricity supplier; DraftKings, the Massachusetts-based online sports gambling giant; Sports Betting Alliance; DoorDash, the food delivery service giant; Casey Wasserman, with the major California talent agency Wasserman; Green Valley-based cell tower and telecommunications attorney John Pestle; California-based solar developer Mark Boyadjian for Arevia Power; Tempe-based Carvana; and California-based clean energy developer Clearway Renew Consolidated Devco.
Multiple donations to the PAC came from the real estate sector: California-based Klein Financial Corporation; Verde Investments, a Tempe-based real estate firm; James Edward Pederson, a Phoenix-based founder of the Pederson Group; Mark Breen, and Scottsdale-based president of Atlantic Development & Investments.
Other sizable donations came from the Arizona Beverage Association; Marcia Grand, Tucson retiree and wife to late trial attorney Richard Grand; the Salt River Pinta-Maricopa Indian Community; Arizona Democratic Party; Democratic Governors Association; D.C.-based Laborers International Union of North America; and Illinois-based racial justice group Communities United.
Karrin Taylor Robson, who suspended her campaign earlier this year, accumulated over $4.7 million for her gubernatorial run. Over $2.2 million of that came from her own pockets. Her cash balance sat at $1.1 million.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 16, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona has enacted legislation aimed at addressing teen suicide by expanding criminal penalties for adults who encourage minors to take their own lives through targeted communication.
According to a press release from Arizona House Republicans, House Bill 2665, known as “Cade’s Law,” establishes criminal liability for adults who intentionally advise or encourage a minor to die by suicide through direct communication, including online messages.
The law expands Arizona’s manslaughter statute to include cases in which an adult, age 18 or older, knowingly encourages a minor to die by suicide while aware of the minor’s intent.
The legislation, sponsored by Representative Pamela Carter (R-LD4), is named after Cade Keller, a 16-year-old Arizona teen who died by suicide in 2022. Lawmakers said the case highlighted a gap in existing law, which penalized providing the physical means for suicide but did not address targeted online communication encouraging self-harm.
In the release, the Arizona House GOP Caucus wrote, “Cade’s Law closes a dangerous loophole.”
Under the new law, “directed communication” includes verbal, written, or electronic messages specifically aimed at a minor, including social media posts, text messages, or other online interactions.
An adult who intentionally sends such communication to a minor, with knowledge of the minor’s intent to die by suicide, can be charged with manslaughter, a Class 2 felony.
The measure does not apply to general discussions about suicide or mental health that are not directed at a specific individual.
In a statement marking the law’s enactment, Carter said, “Teen suicide is a crisis, and we cannot ignore it. Cade Keller was only 16. He loved welding and had plans to attend Mesa Community College. Then his life was cut short. Cade posted online that he planned to take his life. People saw it. No one called 911. No one got an adult. Cade died. That is the nightmare every parent fears, and it is happening to too many families. Cade’s Law makes this a crime. If you knowingly use direct messages to advise or encourage a minor to die by suicide, you will be prosecuted. If you see warning signs, do not wait. Make the call. Get help. Step in.”
The legislation was designed to address the growing role of online platforms in cases involving teen self-harm. Teen suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals ages 10 to 24 in the United States, according to data cited in legislative materials.
The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support in the Arizona Legislature and was advanced as part of broader efforts to address youth mental health and online safety concerns. It was signed into law alongside HB 2666, which addresses the sexual extortion of minors online.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Ethan Faverino | Apr 16, 2026 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Earlier this week, the Joint Economic Committee released its Monthly Fiscal Update, revealing that the federal government recorded a deficit of $164.10 billion in March 2026.
For the first half of FY26, cumulative deficits reached $1.169 trillion, meaning 32.01% of outlays were unfunded by revenues, with the government spending $1.47 for every dollar received in revenue.
The year-to-date deficit for FY26 is 10.60% lower than the $1.307 trillion recorded in the same period of FY25. Full-year deficits in FY25 totaled $1.776 trillion.
According to the most recent 10-year budget projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), federal deficits are expected to total $1.853 trillion in FY26, $1.887 trillion in FY27, and $2.080 trillion in FY28.
In March, total federal net outlays amounted to $548.96 billion. Cumulative net outlays from the start of the fiscal year through March stood at $3.651 trillion.
This represents a 2.35% increase compared to the $3.567 trillion in net outlays for the same period in FY25. Full-year net outlays in FY2025 totaled $7.010 trillion. The CBO projects net outlays will reach $7.772 trillion in FY27 and $8.151 trillion in FY28.
Total federal net receipts in March were $384.86 billion, bringing year-to-date net receipts to $2.483 trillion. This marks a 9.84% increase from the $2.260 trillion in net receipts recorded in the comparable period of FY25. Full-year net receipts in FY25 were $5.235 trillion. The CBO forecasts net receipts of $5.596 trillion in FY2026, $5.885 trillion in FY27, and $6.071 trillion in FY28.
Key figures for March 2026 show net outlays of $548.96 billion, net receipts of $384.86 billion, and a deficit of $164.10 billion. For FY26 year-to-date through March, net outlays totaled $3.651 trillion, net receipts totaled $2.483 trillion, making the deficit $1.169 trillion.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
