Campaign Expenditures at Puerto Rican Resorts Coincide With Senator's Wedding
Federal Election Commission filings have uncovered that Senator Ruben Gallego and former Congressman Eric Swalwell both directed campaign funds toward Puerto Rican resort stays during the very weekend of Gallego's wedding. The revelations have sparked intense scrutiny over potential breaches of federal regulations, which strictly prohibit using campaign finances for personal expenses.
Parallel Payments at Luxury Hotels
Records indicate that Swalwell's political operation made two separate expenditures at the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico, amounting to $1,522.11 on June 7th, 2021. An Instagram post from a wedding guest, examined by the Daily Mail, explicitly tagged this exact hotel as the venue for Gallego's nuptials on that same date.
Simultaneously, the campaign operation of Gallego, who was a congressman at the time and later elected to the Senate in November 2024, spent $2,000 at the nearby Fairmont El San Juan hotel on that identical day. Notably, neither politician has ever publicly shared photographs featuring the other from the wedding celebrations.
Gallego's Efforts to Distance Himself From Swalwell
Senator Gallego has been urgently attempting to separate himself from Swalwell, his former close friend, following Swalwell's resignation from Congress and his suspended campaign for California governor. This came after a series of grave sexual assault allegations emerged against Swalwell.
During a recent press conference, Gallego became emotional, stating he had no prior knowledge of Swalwell's inappropriate conduct, though he acknowledged hearing that Swalwell was "flirty." He expressed deep hurt and anger, accusing Swalwell of being "very good at being a predator" and deceiving colleagues during their time together on the House Judiciary Committee.
Additional Campaign Spending by Fellow Democrat
Further complicating the situation, California Democratic Congresswoman Linda Sanchez also spent campaign funds at the Hyatt Regency, totaling $1,809.79 for the wedding weekend. Additionally, on May 18th, 2021, Sanchez disbursed $540.93 for a "lodging deposit" at the same hotel. Sanchez's office did not respond to requests for comment regarding these expenditures or Swalwell's attendance at the event.
Politico's Playbook edition from June 7th, 2021, confirmed Swalwell's presence at the wedding, alongside Congresswoman Sanchez. This corroborates the timing and location of the campaign fund usage.
Legal and Personal Backgrounds Under Examination
Under federal law, campaign funds are expressly forbidden from being utilized for personal expenses, raising serious questions about the appropriateness of these resort payments during a personal wedding event. Gallego and his wife, Sydney Barron Gallego, were legally married in December 2019 in Washington, D.C., but held their public "marriage" ceremony in Puerto Rico in June 2021.
Sydney Gallego serves as the Director of Government Advocacy at the National Association of Realtors, a prominent lobbying group, where she focuses on legislative strategy targeting House Democrats on housing finance and fair housing issues. Her professional background includes work on Hillary Clinton's campaign and for the Senate Democrats campaign arm.
Gallego's Personal Life and Past Controversies
Senator Gallego's personal history has also faced examination during his political career. He is currently in his second marriage, having filed for divorce from his first wife, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, while she was pregnant. According to divorce records, he informed Kate that their marriage was over on December 15, 2016.
Gallego moved to have these records sealed on the same day, citing their status as "high-profile public officials" likely to attract media scrutiny. He later engaged in legal battles with the conservative Washington Free Beacon to maintain the seals after the outlet sued for access. In the filings, Kate Gallego appeared surprised by his claim that the marriage was "irretrievably broken," responding that she was "without knowledge" of his intentions. The divorce was finalized in April 2017.
Swalwell's Resignation and Mounting Allegations
The controversy surrounding Swalwell has intensified, with at least five women accusing him of sexual misconduct, including allegations of rape, sexual assault, and sending unsolicited messages and photographs. Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress after being engulfed by the scandal, apologizing to his family and staff while maintaining that the claims are false.
Gallego revealed that he had reached out to Swalwell's wife through a mutual friend concerning the mounting allegations, highlighting the once-close relationship between the two families. The intertwining of campaign finances, personal events, and legal allegations continues to unravel, casting a shadow over the political conduct of those involved.
