Arizona Democratic Senator Rubén Gallego faces new scrutiny for his use of campaign funds to cover expenses related to family trips, stays in luxury hotels, visits to resorts and even tickets to the Super Bowl, while the United States Department of Justice maintains an investigation into possible violations of electoral finance laws.

The information, revealed by The New York Times and based on financial records, documents from the Federal Electoral Commission (FEC) and interviews with people familiar with the case, exposes a series of expenses made since 2019 with money contributed by political sympathizers

Although U.S. law allows some personal expenses to be tied to campaign activities, ethicists warn that several of Gallego's disbursements could cross an ethical line, even if some of them do not necessarily constitute a crime.

Disney, resorts and family flights, among the expenses under the microscope

According to the investigation, Rubén Gallego's campaign financed flights for his wife, his children and even the family's nanny to destinations such as Puerto Rico, Miami, Nantucket, Saint Barthélemy and Disney resorts.

Records also show more than $20,000 spent on Ritz-Carlton hotels, about $26,000 spent on child care and Super Bowl tickets valued at approximately $37,500.

One of the cases that drew the most attention occurred during the year-end holidays between 2025 and 2026, when the campaign spent more than $5,000 for a family trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico. According to the senator's office, during that visit he held meetings with potential donors.

Additionally, the campaign covered trips to Disney World and Disneyland properties, where Gallego attended fundraising events organized by other legislators.

Gallego defends the expenses while the investigation progresses

After the publication of the reports, the senator publicly defended the use of the resources and assured that the trips were related to political and fundraising activities.

"Sometimes, I take my wife and children with me to these retreats and fundraising events. Are they held in elegant places? Yes, it's where the donors are, and it's part of the campaign," Rubén Gallego wrote on social media.

His office also rejected any misconduct and maintained that all expenditures complied with current law.

Additionally, the Senate Ethics Committee recently concluded that it found no evidence of violations of campaign finance rules, although that determination is independent of the investigation currently underway by the Department of Justice.

Experts question the use of campaign resources

Beyond the legal aspect, specialists consider that the case shows the existing gaps in the political financing rules in the United States.

Richard Briffault, a professor at Columbia University Law School and an expert on electoral law, questioned the fine line between proselytizing activities and personal benefits.

“It's really blurring the line between a campaign activity and a personal vacation,” he said.

For her part, Erin Chlopak, former FEC lawyer and director of the Campaign Legal Center, warned that the current rules allow a wide margin for campaign resources to end up financing personal expenses.