Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego Had Relationships With Two House Staffers

Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego engaged in sexual relationships with at least two House staffers, both aides to Texas Democrats, the New York Post reported. Both relationships were consensual and took place during Gallego’s decade representing Phoenix in the House.

One of the women was in her 20s and much younger than Gallego at the time. Gallego admitted to the two relationships to one source. A second person said they had recently learned of the romantic entanglements.

A third source confirmed one of the dalliances. The relationships form part of a broader pattern of mistakes and missteps and judgment calls, according to one source. Last month the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed a complaint brought against Gallego by Rep.

Anna Paulina Luna that alleged campaign finance violations and sexual misconduct. The panel, chaired by Sen. James Lankford, did not ask about Gallego’s relationships with the staffers and focused on what Luna presented, an insider said.

Gallego’s office and the two House staffers did not respond to requests for comment. Minutes after the article was published, Gallego told an NBC News journalist on Capitol Hill that he would not engage in gossip. When asked if the reporting was accurate, he repeated the same statement.

Sources said both relationships occurred while Gallego was unmarried. Gallego has denied knowledge of alleged misconduct by Rep. Eric Swalwell. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna claimed in an April 16 CBS News interview that a woman was preparing to speak out about an incident involving Gallego and Swalwell that was sexual in nature.