Exclusive | Sen. Ruben Gallego flew sister-in-law, Brazilian au pair to Washington with campaign funds as federal investigation looms

WASHINGTON — Sen.Ruben Gallego is facing fresh allegations of misspending campaign funds after records show he billed $2,000 for flights for his sister-in-law and au pair — with the new details emerging as the Justice Department reportedly probes the Democrat’s possible misuse of donor contributions.Previously unreported records reviewed by The Post indicate that the then-senator-elect’s campaign spent $1,227 on airfare in late 2024 for his sister-in-law to visit Washington and another $777.91 for Gallego’s Brazilian au pair to fly in from Mexico City ahead of his January 2025 swearing-in.Then-Rep.

Gallego (D-Ariz.) also billed his campaign $661.51 for custom stationery to announce his daughter’s birth in July 2023.Gallego’s office claimed the flights by both the au pair and sister-in-law were related to child care, which federal rules allow to be reimbursed in some cases.The birth announcements “were sent to the campaign’s donors and supporters, as a token of appreciation and a way to keep donors and supporters engaged in then-Congressman Gallego’s campaign,” his office said.Gallego has two children with his current wife, Sydney, and a son with his first wife, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, whom the senator left in 2016 during her pregnancy.The new revelations come two months after reports by Politico and the New York Times revealed Gallego blew tens of thousands of dollars in leadership PAC and campaign funds on family trips — and reporting by Axios and CBS News that the Justice Department is investigating that spending.The criminal investigation is believed to be at an early stage, but a source familiar with Gallego’s profligate expensing said that the details reported by The Post could bolster allegations of wrongdoing.“A ‘family members systematically benefited’ frame is more chargeable and more presentable to a grand jury than isolated trips,” this person said.“Mother-in-law (childcare payments), sister-in-law (flights), au p...