Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., defended his campaign-funded travel and fundraising events after recent reporting detailed luxury travel, childcare and event expenses paid through his political committees, arguing that trips to the Super Bowl and Miami were legitimate efforts to raise money for his political operation.
“You have to go where the money is to raise money,” Gallego told Fox News Digital when asked about criticism surrounding the expenditures.
It was recently reported that Gallego used his leadership PAC to pay for a variety of luxurious trips, including trips to Miami, Saint Barthélemy, Disneyland, Disney World and Chicago, according to financial filings. A source familiar with Gallego’s spending said the senator often used campaign cash to bring his family on these vacations and used donor cash to fund babysitting services for his children, as reported by Politico.
Federal Election Commission records also show Gallego using a joint fundraising committee with former Rep. Eric Swalwell, who recently resigned from Congress after multiple women accused the California Democrat of sexual assault, that was used to fund tickets for him and his wife to attend the 2023 Super Bowl.
When asked about his recent financial controversies, Gallego claimed the Super Bowl endeavor to be a fundraiser event, the “Swallego Victory Fund,” which he hosted with Swalwell.
“The Super Bowl was in Arizona, I represent Arizona,” Gallego said. “We threw a Super Bowl fundraiser in Arizona where we raised money for my election in 2023. That’s what you do.”
The event was held with donors at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, just 20 days after Gallego launched his Arizona Senate bid. A copy of the invitation obtained by Politico shows tickets costing $5,000, including a brunch that could be attended before the game for an additional $1,000.
The event cost over $37,000, with both lawmakers each receiving roughly $8,000 and halting the joint committee after the game.
A Gallego spokesperson told Politico that the “tickets were purchased at fair market value” and that “hosting donors and supporters at sporting events in their areas is a common, bipartisan practice.”
“There’s a lot of people that do fundraisers at golf tournaments, at NASCAR, at IndyCar,” Gallego told Fox News Digital. “So this is just the very same thing.”
The Arizona Democrat also used PAC money for a trip to Miami that coincided with his wife, Sydney Gallego’s, birthday. The couple retreated to the Loews hotel on Miami Beach and charged over $9,000 in expenses.
“We raised about $50,000 in our nine events in Miami,” Gallego said.
A Gallego spokesperson told Politico that the Gallegos “attended several widely attended political events and fundraisers” on their trip to Miami, but did not specify any specific numbers nor address the birthday aspect of the trip.
Federal campaign funds generally cannot be converted to personal use, but FEC guidance allows campaign-related travel, meals at fundraising events and childcare expenses incurred as a direct result of campaign activity. Mixed personal and campaign travel can require reimbursement for the personal portion.
Fox News Digital has not cited any FEC finding that the expenses violated campaign finance law.
Fox News Digital’s Robert Schmad contributed to this report.