US Senate Hopeful Battles to Conceal Divorce Records

Ruben Gallego is appealing to the Arizona Court of Appeals to maintain the confidentiality of his 2016 divorce papers from his ex-wife, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego.

Court documents reveal that Gallego filed for divorce while Kate was pregnant, opting to take the case to Yavapai County despite residing in Phoenix. Notably, he obtained permission to seal not only the filings but the existence of the case itself.

Though the divorce became publicly known after Gallego married lobbyist Sydney Barron, the reasons behind the divorce filing and custody arrangements for the couple’s child remain sealed. Legal filings by The Washington Free Beacon seek to uncover these details.

Founded in 2012, The Free Beacon calls itself dedicated to revealing untold stories. It has previously published significant reports, including allegations of plagiarism against a former Harvard president and insights into Hillary Clinton’s recollections of her husband’s presidency.

Attorneys representing the publication recently approached Judge John Napper of Yavapai County Superior Court, seeking access to the sealed records. Both Ruben and Kate responded by offering to release redacted portions, a proposal that did not satisfy the publication.

According to the publication, the proposed redactions rendered the documents virtually unreadable. The judge ultimately ruled against the Gallegos’ attempts to keep the records sealed and stated that the original sealing was inappropriate.

Currently, the Court of Appeals is reviewing the case, and the publication hopes to unseal the records before early voting begins on October 9. The Beacon argues this issue involves public interest and the rights of voters to be adequately informed about candidates.

Gallego’s campaign for the open Senate seat, currently held by Kyrsten Sinema, faces competition from Republican Kari Lake. Simultaneously, Kate is running for re-election as Phoenix mayor against Matt Evans.

The appellate judges have agreed to expedite the case; however, a conference is scheduled for October 10, delaying the outcome further. Both parties could escalate the case to the Arizona Supreme Court, which would prolong the process.

Attorneys for the Beacon contend the records constitute public information, directly relating to the character of two individuals in public office. The couple’s representative lawyers did not respond to media inquiries and have opted to keep their arguments confidential.

Ruben’s campaign press aide, Hannah Goss, released a statement attributing the situation to Lake’s influence. Lake has questioned the necessity of keeping the divorce details secret and claims Ruben’s resistance suggests damaging information might be revealed.

The records potentially include Gallego’s admissions regarding his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder following military service, as well as details surrounding the couple’s separation prior to their son’s birth.

The Free Beacon’s legal team argues there is insufficient justification for sealing the records, particularly citing vague safety claims made by the Gallegos. They assert that withholding information serves more to protect the couple’s public image rather than safety.

Throughout this situation, Kate has publicly supported Ruben’s political ambitions, reinforcing their partnership. However, the ongoing legal battle may necessitate a more transparent dialogue as campaign events approach.

The debate between Ruben Gallego and Kari Lake is scheduled for October 9, adding to the growing scrutiny surrounding Gallego’s past.