Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona faces renewed scrutiny after a report alleged he had consensual sexual relationships with two congressional staffers while serving in the House. Gallego dismissed the account as “gossip” when questioned.
The New York Post reported that three unnamed sources described relationships with aides to two Texas Democrats. One source claimed Gallego acknowledged both; a third corroborated one. The outlet said the relationships occurred during his House tenure from 2015 to 2025 and reportedly took place while he was unmarried. Gallego’s office and the women did not respond to the Post’s requests for comment.
NBC News reporter Frank Thorp V asked whether the report was accurate. “I’m not going to engage in gossip,” Gallego replied twice. His office provided the exchange to Phoenix New Times.
The report identified the women as aides in other lawmakers’ offices. The House Code of Official Conduct bars sexual relationships with employees a member supervises or staff of a committee on which the member serves; it does not categorically bar relationships with all congressional staff. The code prohibits unwelcome sexual advances or conduct, and the Post characterized the reported relationships as consensual.
The story came less than three weeks after the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed a separate complaint from Republican Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna alleging campaign finance violations and potential sexual misconduct. The bipartisan panel found no evidence Gallego violated federal law, Senate rules or related standards and thanked him for cooperating.
Luna called for Gallego to resign after the new report. The controversy intensified debate over lawmaker-staffer relationships. House Speaker Mike Johnson told Axios he supports extending the prohibition to all congressional staff because of the power imbalance, while a bipartisan House task force considers changes.
