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 Staff Reporter | Apr 15, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Rep. Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ-08) formalized the resignation of now-former California congressman Eric Swalwell on Tuesday.
Hamadeh acted in accordance with a provision of the House Rules requiring the Speaker or his designee to announce the House membership adjustment on the floor.
Since the initial sexual assault allegations against Swalwell broke last week, at least five other women have come forward claiming wrongdoing by Swalwell ranging from sexual harassment to rape.
Arizona politico Brian Anderson remarked on the difference between Arizona members’ circumstance in relation to the Swalwell fallout: Hamadeh stepping in for the House Speaker to finalize Swalwell’s rushed exit, and Sen. Ruben Gallego defending himself against accusations of his knowledge or participation in Swalwell’s impropriety.
“Pretty shocking split-screen for Arizonans right now,” said Anderson. “On one side, Ruben Gallego shaking and stuttering, defending himself against credible allegations he knew about Swalwell. On the other, Abraham Hamadeh putting the final nail in Swalwell’s career.”
Gallego’s decade-long friendship with Swalwell has put him in the center of the former California gubernatorial candidate’s fallout.
Social media users and influencers have speculated that the mystery man in a now-viral video depicting Swalwell getting intimate with a young woman on a bed was Gallego.
During a Monday press gaggle, Gallego denied that he was the man in the video. He blamed “right-wing, political operatives” for the popularization of the narrative.
“This is an example of the lies. No, I was not sitting next to him, I was not in the room, I don’t even know where it happened,” said Gallego.
Gallego said he, too, was a victim of Swalwell. He claimed innocence of knowledge, saying Swalwell had led a “double life” and lied to him about the allegations.
“Look, I messed up. I’m human. I trusted this man, I trusted him to watch my children. I would watch his children,” said Gallego. “He knew that I had just gone through the most bruising campaign, where I was accused of being a mule for the cartel, where my kids were subjected to TV commercials about what an awful human being I was; he knew how to prey on that. I was a loyal friend to someone that was just not loyal to me.”
However, Gallego also indicated that he knew of rumors of his former friend’s flirtatiousness over the years, but had dismissed them based on his personal interactions with Swalwell and Swalwell’s wife.
“I heard rumors of him being flirty [for years],” said Gallego. “We all heard rumors in Washington, D.C.”
Gallego said he had never engaged in inappropriate behavior with any woman outside of his marriage. He claimed Swalwell lied to him and manipulated him.
Former New York congressman George Santos accused Gallego of being one of a number of U.S. House and Senate members to engage in sexual romps up the hill. Santos alleged Gallego’s behavior was “the worst-kept secret” at the Capitol.
“There is an AZ senator that needs to be looked into ASAP,” said Santos in another post. “The rumors about him have alway[s] been WILD.”
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 14, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is facing renewed scrutiny over longstanding personal, political, and financial ties to U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) following recent allegations against the California congressman and the subsequent collapse of his gubernatorial campaign.
Swalwell suspended his bid for governor of California in a Sunday announcement after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct, including a former congressional staffer. Swalwell has denied the allegations, which were detailed in reporting published Friday by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The California Democrat has announced his intent to resign from Congress in a statement released Monday:
“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make. I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress. I will work with my staff in the coming days to ensure they are able, in my absence, to serve the needs of the good people of the 14th congressional district.”
The allegations triggered political fallout within Democratic circles. Gallego, who had previously endorsed Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign, later revoked that endorsement.
Gallego and Swalwell have maintained a close relationship for years, publicly describing each other as close friends and frequently appearing together in political settings during their time in Congress.
Their ties extend beyond personal association into financial and campaign-related activity. According to a March report, Gallego invested campaign funds into an artificial intelligence startup launched by a business partner described as a close associate of Swalwell.
The report documented that the startup’s leadership included individuals with direct ties to Swalwell, drawing attention to the overlap between political fundraising and private investment activity.
The House Committee on Ethics has opened a probe into allegations of sexual misconduct by Swalwell, according to an announcement released Monday.
The committee stated it has “begun an investigation and will gather additional information regarding the allegations that Representative Eric Swalwell violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law, rule, regulation, or other applicable standard of conduct in the performance of his duties or the discharge of his responsibilities, with respect to allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct, including towards an employee working under his supervision.”
Additional attention has come from social media posts by former New York Congressman George Santos, who has highlighted the longstanding relationship between Gallego and Swalwell and suggested further scrutiny may be warranted. In posts on X, Santos pointed to the timeline of alleged incidents and Gallego’s tenure in Congress alongside Swalwell, raising questions about the extent of their association.
Santos’ posts have fueled online discussion about Gallego’s association with Swalwell and other members of Congress.
Other political figures, including Turning Point Action COO Tyler Bowyer, have also pointed to Gallego’s past public support for Swalwell in response to the allegations.
The questions surrounding Gallego’s relationship with Swalwell have also drawn attention from journalists. In a post on X, Yashar Ali wrote, “An important question everyone should be asking: what did Senator Ruben Gallego know and when did he know it?”
Swalwell has previously faced national attention over other controversies, including reported contact with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative earlier in his congressional career. U.S. officials stated at the time that Swalwell was not accused of wrongdoing and cooperated with investigators.
Gallego initially appeared to publicly defend Swalwell as allegations emerged, before later distancing himself by withdrawing his endorsement. As of this report, Gallego has not issued a detailed public statement addressing the full scope of his relationship with Swalwell or the financial ties documented in prior reporting.
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 Staff Reporter | Apr 12, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) revoked the gubernatorial endorsement of his longtime friend, Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell, over sexual assault claims.
Gallego dropped support for his “best friend” Swalwell following a Friday report in the San Francisco Chronicle detailing sexual assault claims by one of Swalwell’s former female staffers.
That report came out in the days following social media posts by political activists alleging other incidents of sexual misconduct.
Gallego said he regretted defending Swalwell.
“What is described is indefensible. Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed,” said Gallego. “I regret having come to his defense on social media prior to knowing all the information. I am equally as shocked and upset about what has transpired.”
In the days leading up to the San Francisco Chronicle report, Gallego was defending Swalwell against the online rumors.
“When you are in first place, is when they will target you,” said Gallego. “Eric is a fighter and he will win the governor’s race.”
According to the report, an anonymous staffer alleged that Swalwell sexually assaulted her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent. Swalwell issued a statement denying the allegations and indicating he would initiate legal action.
The staffer alleged that Swalwell’s unwanted advances began almost immediately after she was hired to work in one of his district offices in 2019; she alleged Swalwell sent and solicited nude pictures from her via Snapchat. At the time, the staffer was 21 years old.
Common among the various rumors and allegations of Swalwell’s misconduct was the use of Snapchat.
She also alleged that Swalwell attempted to kiss her following a donor meeting, and in a separate car ride exposed his genitalia and requested oral sex. In the latter instance, she recounted that she complied.
That same year of her hiring, the staffer alleged that she blacked out while out drinking with Swalwell and later woke up naked in his hotel bed.
In 2024, some time after ceasing employment with Swalwell’s office, the woman alleged that she again blacked out while out drinking with him and was again sexually assaulted.
Ahead of Friday’s report, Swalwell’s attorney submitted a cease-and-desist letter to the former staffer. The letter threatened a lawsuit unless she walked back her allegations.
Following the report, three more women told CNN that Swalwell had committed sexual misconduct against them. Swalwell has denied these allegations as well.
Beyond those claims of wrongdoing, Swalwell denied to the California Post that he ever had any sexual relationships with any staff or interns.
Gallego and Swalwell were close for over a decade leading up to this development. The Arizona senator served as Swalwell’s campaign chair when the latter made a brief run for president in 2019.
The Arizona senator recently invested in Swalwell’s AI startup.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Mar 24, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego (D) invested campaign funds into an AI startup launched by Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat and gubernatorial candidate.
Gallego paid Swalwell’s startup FindRaiser over $13,000 between April and July of last summer from two campaign committees: Gallego for Arizona and Juntos PAC, as first reported by NOTUS. About $10,500 came from Gallego for Arizona and over $2,600 came from Juntos PAC. Both issued identical disbursements of $2,613.75 for subscriptions to the startup, per Federal Election Commission (FEC) records.
First congressional district candidate Marlene Galan-Woods also got in on the action. Galan-Woods, a former Fox News and CBS News anchor and key member of Gov. Katie Hobbs’ gubernatorial transition team in 2023, paid almost $1,000 to Swalwell’s startup between October and November of last year.
Swalwell and Gallego have described one another as “best friends” in various media interviews over the years. In a more recent interview with CNN last November, Swalwell likened himself and Gallego to “the Avengers,” describing them as the standard-bearers of the Democratic Party.
The startup, FindRaiser, uses AI to search and provide advice to candidates about their donor databases. Swalwell’s former chief of staff, Yardena Wolf, cofounded the startup and serves as its CEO. NOTUS reported that Wolf sent promotional emails for FindRaiser prior to stepping down as chief of staff last December.
Wolf joined Swalwell’s office in 2021, making the transition from the vice presidency of a fundraising company where she’d raised funds for Swalwell. Listed on Wolf’s LinkedIn under her chief of staff employment is a link to a 2024 Elle article, “The Group Chat That Secretly Runs Congress.” Members of that group chat, all females, included chiefs of staff for Democratic representatives that gave campaign funds to FindRaiser.
Swalwell invested over $7,000 of his own campaign funds into the startup as well. In his annual financial disclosure report, Swalwell estimated FindRaiser’s value to be between $250,000 and $500,000.
Others to give money to the startup out of their campaign coffers were:
- Alabama Rep. Shomari Figures, over $1,000 from Committee to Elect Shomari Figures For Congress through payments made last June and July;
- California Rep. Jimmy Gomez, $3,000 from Jimmy Gomez For Congress through payments made from last July through November;
- California Sen. Adam Schiff, about $2,000 from Schiff For Senate through payments made last November and December;
- Michigan U.S. House candidate Matt Maasdam, $500 from Matt Maasdam For Congress through a payment made last August;
- Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens, over $3,600 from Hayley Stevens For Senate through payments made from last June through October;
- Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig, $2,300 from Angie Craig For Minnesota through payments made from last September through December;
- Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, over $4,500 from Ilhan For Congress, through payments made from last March through October;
- Nevada Rep. Steven Horsford, $500 from Nevadans For Steven Horsford in a payment made last October;
- New York Rep. Dan Goldman, over $7,400 from Dan Goldman For New York, through payments made from last April through December;
- New York Rep. Joe Morelle, over $6,500 from Joe Morelle For Congress, through payments made from last April through December;
- Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett, $4,500 from Jasmine For Us and $1,000 from Jasmine For Texas, through payments made from last March through this February;
- Texas Rep. Tom Suozzi, $5,000 from Suozzi for Congress in a payment made last July; and
- South Carolina U.S. Senate candidate Annie Andrews, over $4,200 from Dr. Annie Andrews For Senate, through payments made from last July through November
FEC records show FindRaiser raised nearly $67,500.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
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