Gallegos’ Divorce Files Expose Intriguing Court Drama

In a culmination of a lengthy legal battle, the divorce records of U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego and his wife, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, were unsealed this week, revealing no major surprises. After a contentious ten-month struggle initiated by the conservative news outlet Washington Free Beacon, the documents showed typical divorce proceedings rather than any alleged scandal.

Both Gallegos, who are Democrats, are currently running for office in the upcoming November elections. Ruben Gallego is competing against Kari Lake, a Republican vying for a U.S. Senate seat that could sway control of the chamber. Meanwhile, Kate Gallego seeks reelection as Phoenix’s mayor.

The Arizona Mirror examined the released records, which outlined standard topics such as property division, custody, and child support agreements. Notably absent were any allegations of misconduct, including a standard disclaimer that no physical abuse took place.

The couple, who remain allies in politics, had fought to maintain the privacy of their divorce records. In a joint statement, they demanded an apology from Kari Lake, accusing her of making unfounded claims about their family. “She will stop at nothing to score a cheap political point,” they asserted, emphasizing their commitment to protecting their child’s well-being.

Kari Lake has distanced herself from the litigation but regularly invokes the divorce in her campaign rhetoric against Ruben Gallego. Recently, she suggested he was concealing something nefarious, maintaining that the divorce records contained critical information.

Ruben and Kate married in 2010, and he began representing Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District in 2014. Their divorce proceedings commenced in December 2016, shortly before the birth of their son in January 2017.

The Washington Free Beacon filed the request to unseal the divorce records in January, resulting in a complex legal process that culminated in the October 10 ruling by an Arizona appeals court. The Arizona Supreme Court denied the Gallegos’ request for a delay in releasing the documents, citing the privacy of their minor child.

As the political climate heats up ahead of the election, Lake continues to spotlight the divorce, claiming it raises serious questions about her opponent. In a statement following the unsealing of the records, Lake’s campaign described the revelations as “shocking,” particularly noting that Ruben had requested Kate cover his legal fees.

An attorney for the Washington Free Beacon argued that the voters deserved access to this information before the election, a sentiment echoed by Lake on social media.