Disgraced ex-Congressman Eric Swalwell and now-Senator Ruben Gallego both spent campaign funds at Puerto Rican resorts during the same weekend as Gallego’s wedding, Federal Election Commission records show.
Gallego has scurried to distance himself from Swalwell, his former close friend, after the congressman and candidate for California governor resigned from both positions following a series of troubling sexual assault allegations.
But the true intimacy of their relationship is beginning to unravel, the Daily Mail can reveal.
Swalwell’s political operation made a pair of expenditures at the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico, totaling $1,522.11 on June 7th, 2021.
An Instagram post by a wedding guest, reviewed by the Daily Mail, tagged that hotel as the location of Gallego’s wedding on that same date.
The political operation of Gallego – the groom – spent $2,000 at the nearby Fairmont El San Juan that same day. Gallego, a congressman at the time, was elected to the Senate in November 2024.
Curiously, neither has ever posted photographs that include the other from the nuptials.
Gallego’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Mail when asked if the then-congressman spent campaign funds on a hotel during his island nuptials or if Swalwell attended the event.
Democrat Representatives Eric Swalwell of California, left, and Ruben Gallego of Arizona, right, at the US Capitol on Thursday, September 30, 2021
Ruben Gallego and wife Sydney on their wedding day in Puerto Rico
Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico
The caption of an instagram reviewed by the Daily Mail that denotes the location of Gallego’s wedding
Politico reported in 2021 that Swalwell was present at the wedding in the Monday, June 7th, 2021, edition of Politico Playbook.
California Democratic Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, also in attendance at the event per Politico, spent campaign funds at the Hyatt Regency totaling $1,809.79. On May 18th of 2021, Sanchez spent an additional $540.93 for a ‘lodging deposit’ at the hotel.
The Daily Mail contacted Sanchez’s office for comment about the disbursement as well as Swalwell’s attendance at the event, and did not receive a response.
Under federal law, campaign funds cannot be used for personal expenses.
Gallego and Sydney Barron Gallego were legally married in December 2019 in Washington, DC, at the National Gallery of Art, but went public with their engagement in February of 2020 ahead of their ‘marriage’ ceremony in Puerto Rico in June 2021.
Sydney is the Director of Government Advocacy at the National Association of Realtors, a top lobbying group, focusing on legislative strategy targeting House Democrats on housing finance, fair housing, and related issues. She also worked on Hillary Clinton’s campaign and for the Senate Democrats campaign arm.
Gallego, Arizona’s junior senator, held a press conference in his office on Tuesday during which he claimed he had no knowledge of Swalwell’s inappropriate behavior, even though he had heard that Swalwell was ‘flirty.’
He broke down in tears at one point, insisting that he ‘trusted’ his friend.
‘And it hurts, the fact that he hurt a lot of people, and it pisses me off that now we all have to deal with all of his BS, his family, the poor victims that are still going to have to seek justice,’ Gallego said.
Turning on his longtime friend and colleague, he said that Swalwell ‘became very good at being a predator.’
FEC Record showing Swalwell’s campaign expense in Puerto Rico on Gallego’s wedding weekend, June 7th, 2021
FEC Record showing Gallego’s campaign expense in Puerto Rico on his wedding weekend, June 7th, 2021
FEC Record showing Sanchez’ campaign expense in Puerto Rico on Gallego’s wedding weekend, June 7th, 2021
He also noted that Swalwell ‘lied to all of us’ during his time on the House Judiciary Committee, where he was an active voice in the push to impeach Donald Trump.
The two men have been close throughout their time in Congress, with their families on friendly terms. Gallego said Tuesday he had reached out to Swalwell’s wife through a mutual friend over the mounting allegations against her husband.
At least five women have accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including rape, sexual assault, and sending unsolicited messages and photographs.
Swalwell announced Monday he would resign his seat in Congress after being engulfed by the scandal. The Democrat – who had suspended his campaign for California governor only the day before – apologized to his family and staff while insisting the claims are false.
Gallego’s own personal life came under scrutiny during his Senate race. He is now on his second marriage, having filed for divorce from his first wife – Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego – while she was pregnant.
According to divorce records, he told Kate their marriage was over on December 15, 2016.
Although such records are normally public in Arizona, Gallego filed to have them sealed on the same day, citing the couple’s status as ‘high-profile public officials’ whose case would ‘likely receive intense scrutiny from the media.’
He later fought the conservative Washington Free Beacon in court to keep them sealed after the outlet sued for access.
In the filings, Kate appeared blindsided by Gallego’s claim that their marriage was ‘irretrievably broken’, responding that she was ‘without knowledge’ of his intentions.
The divorce was finalized in April 2017. Kate was then serving on the Phoenix City Council and went on to be elected Mayor of Phoenix in March 2019.
