Rep. Luna accuses Sen. Gallego of misconduct and campaign finance violations, which he denies 02:24
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., on Thursday accused Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of inappropriate behavior, which Gallego denied.
Luna told CBS News’ “Takeaway with Major Garrett” that the Arizona Democrat, a previously unnamed senator, faced “very disturbing” accusations in a cryptic social media post earlier this week.
A spokesperson for Gallego told CBS News on Thursday: “These are right-wing conspiracy theories repeated by a fringe far-right member of Congress. Senator Gallego has not been notified and has not been contacted by the Ethics Committee.”
CBS News has not confirmed the allegations.
Luna did not reveal many details about the allegations, but she said some of them were “sexual in nature” and some involved alleged campaign finance violations. She also said Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s office confirmed to her that the matter was under investigation.
Luna said Gallego, a senator, “has close ties to House Democrat Eric Swalwell,” who resigned from Congress this week amid sexual misconduct allegations.
“A woman allegedly came forward with a lawyer,” Luna said. [and] wanted to document a simultaneous incident between the two of them that was allegedly sexual in nature. “
Asked for more details, Luna added, “I think any time you knowingly purchase someone for sex, that’s something that should be taken seriously.”
Gallego has vehemently denied wrongdoing in recent days. He told reporters earlier this week that he had never engaged in any sexual misconduct or other inappropriate behavior with staff or women outside of his marriage.
Gallego was a friend of Swalwell but later called for Swalwell’s expulsion from Congress. Earlier this week, he admitted he was aware of rumors of Swalwell’s “flirtation.” But he later said he had “never heard an actual allegation of harassment or predatory behavior against employees.” Gallego also said he “believed lies.”
Hours before Luna named Gallego, Thune told reporters he didn’t know whether the congresswoman’s allegations of “very disturbing” behavior were credible, but said the matter had been referred to the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. CBS News has reached out to the Ethics Commission for comment.
The saga comes just days after Swalwell and his former Republican colleague, Rep. Tony Gonzalez, formally resigned from the House within hours as pressure mounted to expel them from the lower chamber. Swalwell was accused of sexual assault and sending unsolicited nude photos, and Gonzalez was accused of having an affair with a staff member who later committed suicide.
Luna, who has been outspoken about the need to combat allegations of misconduct, told CBS News earlier this week that she expected other lawmakers to face similar pressure.
Christian Peña, Alan He and Nikole Killion contributed to this report.
