Kari Lake Accused of Owing Ruben Gallego an Apology Over ‘Bizarre’ Divorce Demand

By Staff Reporter |

GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake’s campaign has dismissed attempts by her Democratic opponent, Ruben Gallego, to associate her with the release of his divorce records. Earlier this year, a lawsuit was filed by The Washington Free Beacon aimed at unsealing these records, which successfully resulted in the disclosure of over 400 pages on Thursday.

Lake has seized on this opportunity, suggesting that the records could reveal questionable details about Gallego’s character. Following the unsealing, both Gallego and his ex-wife, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, issued a statement demanding an apology from Lake. “We demand an apology from Kari Lake for lying about our family and the circumstances of our divorce,” the couple stated. They expressed concern over Lake’s actions potentially jeopardizing their child’s privacy.

Adding another layer to the controversy, Gallego faced backlash after posting, then deleting, a tweet featuring his young daughter to advocate for abortion rights. “I’m a dad running for Senate to give my kids and yours the best future possible,” he wrote in the tweet, which many found problematic given the circumstances of his past divorce.

In response, Lake’s senior advisor Caroline Wren described Gallego’s demands for an apology as “bizarre,” asserting that Lake had no involvement in the legal proceedings. The Lake campaign labeled the contents of the divorce records as “shocking,” particularly considering Gallego’s public position as an advocate for women’s rights. They highlighted the divorce filing’s timing as he served his wife divorce papers shortly before she was due to give birth, along with his request for his pregnant wife to foot his legal fees.

The Lake campaign’s statement noted, “If Ruben Gallego will turn his back on his pregnant wife days before she gives birth, he will turn his back on Arizona.” Gallego filed for divorce from Kate Gallego in December 2016, just before she was set to deliver their child.

Despite the media’s high expectations for an “October surprise,” many believe the released documents did not deliver the anticipated scandal. Yavapai Superior Court Judge John Napper, who allowed the unsealing, remarked that the Gallego records were among the least notable he had encountered. “Few, if any, will be impressed by the records,” he predicted.