Justice Department investigating Sen. Ruben Gallego's use of campaign funds, sources say

Updated on: June 30, 2026 / 9:32 PM EDT / CBS News

Justice Department investigating Sen. Ruben Gallego's use of campaign funds, sources say

TL;DR

  • The Justice Department is investigating Senator Ruben Gallego for potential campaign finance violations.
  • The investigation stems from a whistleblower complaint and focuses on Gallego's use of campaign funds for family trips since 2019.
  • Federal records show Gallego has billed campaign accounts for trips to various locations, including Puerto Rico and Miami.
  • A PAC co-founded by Gallego and Eric Swalwell spent over $37,000 on Super Bowl tickets and meals in 2023 before its termination.
  • Gallego denies wrongdoing and has not been charged; his team claims the investigation is politically motivated.
  • The Senate Ethics Committee recently dismissed an unrelated complaint against Gallego.
  • Experts note that investigating the personal use of campaign funds is fact-specific, depending on the link to campaign purposes.