Arizona Democratic Congressman Ruben Marinlarena-Gallego, who is also a U.S. Senate Candidate, was visibly upset during a recent press conference when a reporter brought up his alleged "connection to drug cartels."
This line of questioning was prompted by Kari Lake, Gallego's Trump-endorsed opponent, who had previously highlighted Gallego's family ties to illicit drug trade.
In response to the reporter's query, Gallego neither confirmed nor denied the alleged connection to drug cartels or the claim that his father "works for the cartels." Instead, he chose to counterattack Lake and portray himself as a victim. "My father, who abandoned my family, is a convicted drug dealer," Gallego confessed, his eyes welling up with tears.
According to Gateway Pundit, this emotional display was likely a reaction to Lake's recent remarks on the Afternoon Addiction radio show, hosted by Garret Lewis. Lake had accused Marinlarena-Gallego of being "controlled by the cartels" and pointed out that his father is a convicted drug trafficker. "Do you think that guy is going to take on the cartels? Hes owned by the cartels," Lake had asserted.
Gallego, who was born Ruben Marinlarena, legally changed his name on August 7, 2008. He later defended this decision in an election lawsuit that demanded he display his full name on the ballot. It appears Gallego wished to keep his father's identity concealed from voters.
In a statement released in June 2014, which he later removed from his campaign webpage, Gallego claimed that the name change was a tribute to his mother. While this may be a valid reason, it also conveniently serves his political interests. He detailed his mother's struggles as an immigrant raising four children single-handedly and the hardships he and his siblings faced after their father abandoned them.
Despite his attempts to distance himself from his father's criminal past, Gallego's personal life seems to mirror his father's in some ways. He left his wife when she was nine months pregnant and later began a relationship with a DC lobbyist. His actions have led some to comment that "the apple doesnt fall too far from the tree."
Gallego's voting record in Congress further fuels the controversy. He has consistently voted against measures aimed at securing the border and increasing penalties for illegal immigrants. He also voted against Trumps declaration of a national emergency at the Southern Border and the Secure the Border Act in 2023. Moreover, he co-sponsored the Safeguarding Sanctuary Cities Act of 2017 and voted to provide financial aid to illegal immigrants.
In a 2017 op-ed titled "Why we should not build Trumps border wall (ever)," Gallego argued that illegal immigration is "a problem that doesnt exist." He also criticized Trumps border wall as "stupid" and "useless."
Investigative reporter Laura Loomer has highlighted Gallego's questionable connections, including a recent fundraiser with Fast and Furious architect Eric Holder and his fathers criminal record. She argues that Gallego's close ties to Mexican cartels disqualify him from running for the US Senate.
Kari Lake, on the other hand, has made her stance clear, stating, "I want to confront the cartels. My opponent wants to coddle them." This ongoing controversy underscores the stark contrast between the two candidates and their approach to tackling the issue of drug cartels and illegal immigration.
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