Federal Election Fee data have unveiled that former Congressman Eric Swalwell and Senator Ruben Gallego each drew from their marketing campaign funds to cowl bills at Puerto Rican resorts throughout the identical weekend as Gallego’s marriage ceremony. This revelation sheds mild on their intertwined political and private lives.
In current months, Gallego has tried to distance himself from Swalwell, who resigned from his congressional function and stepped down from the California governor’s race amidst a storm of sexual assault allegations. Regardless of these efforts, the depth of their previous connection is step by step turning into evident.
Through the weekend of June 7, 2021, Swalwell’s political marketing campaign disbursed $1,522.11 on the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico. Coincidentally, an Instagram publish from a marriage attendee, which was reviewed by the Every day Mail, pinpointed this resort because the venue for Gallego’s nuptials that very day.
In the meantime, Gallego’s personal marketing campaign funds had been used to settle a $2,000 expense on the close by Fairmont El San Juan on the identical date. At the moment, Gallego was serving as a congressman, a job he held till his election to the Senate in November 2024.
An Instagram publish by a marriage visitor, reviewed by the Every day Mail, tagged that resort as the placement of Gallego’s marriage ceremony on that very same date.
The political operation of Gallego – the groom – spent $2,000 on the close by Fairmont El San Juan that very same day. Gallego, a congressman on the time, was elected to the Senate in November 2024.
Curiously, neither has ever posted pictures that embrace the opposite from the nuptials.
Gallego’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from the Every day Mail when requested if the then-congressman spent marketing campaign funds on a resort throughout his island nuptials or if Swalwell attended the occasion.
Democrat Representatives Eric Swalwell of California, left, and Ruben Gallego of Arizona, proper, on the US Capitol on Thursday, September 30, 2021
Ruben Gallego and spouse Sydney on their marriage ceremony day in Puerto Rico
Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico
The caption of an instagram reviewed by the Every day Mail that denotes the placement of Gallego’s marriage ceremony
Politico reported in 2021 that Swalwell was current on the marriage ceremony within the Monday, June seventh, 2021, version of Politico Playbook.
California Democratic Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, additionally in attendance on the occasion per Politico, spent marketing campaign funds on the Hyatt Regency totaling $1,809.79. On Might 18th of 2021, Sanchez spent a further $540.93 for a ‘lodging deposit’ on the resort.
The Every day Mail contacted Sanchez’s workplace for remark concerning the disbursement in addition to Swalwell’s attendance on the occasion, and didn’t obtain a response.
Beneath federal legislation, marketing campaign funds can’t be used for private bills.
Gallego and Sydney Barron Gallego had been legally married in December 2019 in Washington, DC, on the Nationwide Gallery of Artwork, however went public with their engagement in February of 2020 forward of their ‘marriage’ ceremony in Puerto Rico in June 2021.
Sydney is the Director of Authorities Advocacy on the Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors, a high lobbying group, specializing in legislative technique focusing on Home Democrats on housing finance, honest housing, and associated points. She additionally labored on Hillary Clinton’s marketing campaign and for the Senate Democrats marketing campaign arm.
Gallego, Arizona’s junior senator, held a press convention in his workplace on Tuesday throughout which he claimed he had no information of Swalwell’s inappropriate conduct, although he had heard that Swalwell was ‘flirty.’
He broke down in tears at one level, insisting that he ‘trusted’ his pal.
‘And it hurts, the truth that he damage lots of people, and it pisses me off that now all of us need to cope with all of his BS, his household, the poor victims which are nonetheless going to have to hunt justice,’ Gallego mentioned.
Turning on his longtime pal and colleague, he mentioned that Swalwell ‘grew to become superb at being a predator.’
FEC Document displaying Swalwell’s marketing campaign expense in Puerto Rico on Gallego’s marriage ceremony weekend, June seventh, 2021
FEC Document displaying Gallego’s marketing campaign expense in Puerto Rico on his marriage ceremony weekend, June seventh, 2021
FEC Document displaying Sanchez’ marketing campaign expense in Puerto Rico on Gallego’s marriage ceremony weekend, June seventh, 2021
He additionally famous that Swalwell ‘lied to all of us’ throughout his time on the Home Judiciary Committee, the place he was an energetic voice within the push to question Donald Trump.
The 2 males have been shut all through their time in Congress, with their households on pleasant phrases. Gallego mentioned Tuesday he had reached out to Swalwell’s spouse by way of a mutual pal over the mounting allegations in opposition to her husband.
A minimum of 5 girls have accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, together with rape, sexual assault, and sending unsolicited messages and pictures.
Swalwell introduced Monday he would resign his seat in Congress after being engulfed by the scandal. The Democrat – who had suspended his marketing campaign for California governor solely the day earlier than – apologized to his household and employees whereas insisting the claims are false.
Gallego’s personal private life got here below scrutiny throughout his Senate race. He’s now on his second marriage, having filed for divorce from his first spouse – Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego – whereas she was pregnant.
Based on divorce data, he instructed Kate their marriage was over on December 15, 2016.
Though such data are usually public in Arizona, Gallego filed to have them sealed on the identical day, citing the couple’s standing as ‘high-profile public officers’ whose case would ‘probably obtain intense scrutiny from the media.’
He later fought the conservative Washington Free Beacon in courtroom to maintain them sealed after the outlet sued for entry.
Within the filings, Kate appeared blindsided by Gallego’s declare that their marriage was ‘irretrievably damaged’, responding that she was ‘with out information’ of his intentions.
The divorce was finalized in April 2017. Kate was then serving on the Phoenix Metropolis Council and went on to be elected Mayor of Phoenix in March 2019.
