Federal prosecutors subpoenaed Sen. Ruben Gallego's leadership PAC, Juntos, for records tied to a Sept. 9, 2025, Disneyland trip as part of a grand jury probe into campaign spending. FEC filings show more than 20 disbursements that day, including two $891.87 charges to Disney's Grand Californian Hotel. Gallego denies wrongdoing and his office called the investigation politically motivated; the Senate Ethics Committee previously dismissed a related complaint.
DOJ Subpoenas Sen. Ruben Gallego's Leadership PAC in Grand Jury Probe Over 2025 Disneyland Trip
Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., leaves the American embassy in Ottawa after a news conference, on Tuesday, Sept. 1. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Federal prosecutors have subpoenaed the leadership PAC of Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) for records tied to a Sept. 9, 2025, trip to Disneyland, escalating a grand jury investigation into campaign-related spending.
What the Subpoena Seeks
According to a subpoena obtained by Politico, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California — which covers Anaheim — requested records from Gallego's Juntos PAC related to activity on or about Sept. 9, 2025. The subpoena also seeks materials Gallego provided to the Senate Ethics Committee during its separate review. The office said it intends to present the documents to a grand jury as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
Spending Details
Federal Election Commission filings show Juntos PAC recorded more than 20 disbursements on that single September day to cover expenses tied to a Disneyland visit in Anaheim, including two payments of $891.87 each to Disney's Grand Californian Hotel.
Responses And Background
Gallego spokesman Jacques Petit told Politico the PAC complied with the subpoena “because it has nothing to hide.” Petit did not disclose whether Gallego, his family or staff have received separate subpoenas.
The Justice Department opened an inquiry in late June after a whistleblower complaint from Southern California. That probe followed reporting by Politico about Gallego's use of Juntos PAC and a joint account with former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) to cover family trips to Disney parks and other travel, including to Miami and Chicago. Swalwell resigned from Congress in April amid unrelated sexual misconduct allegations.
The development arrived hours after the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed a parallel complaint filed by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), finding no evidence that Gallego violated federal law or Senate rules.
Political Context
The widening investigation now shadows a freshman senator frequently mentioned as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender. Gallego has denied wrongdoing, and his office told Axios the federal probe represented political targeting by what it called the “most weaponized Department of Justice in history.”
Reporting cited: Politico, Axios, Federal Election Commission filings.
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