Veterans Demand Answers: Why No Investigation Into Sen. Gallego’s Mortgage Fraud Claims?

By Matthew Holloway |

In a recent statement on X, the advocacy group ‘Veterans for Arizona’ called on U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins to clarify why allegations against Senator Ruben Gallego remain unexamined. These allegations, reported in 2023, suggest that Gallego improperly claimed both his Arizona and Washington, D.C. residences as primary homes to secure favorable VA mortgage rates designed for veterans.

During his campaign for the Senate in 2024, reports indicated that Gallego purchased a home near the Capitol, designating it as his primary residence on VA loan documentation, while simultaneously asserting that his Phoenix home held the same designation.

Documents obtained by Politico revealed that Gallego’s campaign insisted his primary residence complies with election law, based in Arizona, despite evidence suggesting otherwise regarding his D.C. property.

In June 2023, the National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC) expressed concerns that Gallego’s loan application claimed Washington, D.C. as his primary residence to qualify for advantageous mortgage terms. This move raises questions of potential fraud, particularly since he also received homeowner tax breaks and voted in Arizona.

The NRSC highlighted that this alleged mortgage fraud surfaced shortly after Gallego was linked to a now-defunct bank targeting immigrants, raising further implications about his financial dealings.

NRSC spokesman Tate Mitchell remarked to the Arizona Republic, “If Ruben Gallego signed fraudulent documents, that will be a serious issue for him in the election — and potentially with the authorities.” He noted the difficult position for national Democrats, caught between Gallego and incumbent Kyrsten Sinema.

While legal experts affirmed that Gallego is not required to live in his district to serve in Congress, they pointed out the complications about optics and legality associated with claiming dual residences. “It isn’t something the average person does,” one expert stated, highlighting the discrepancy between Gallego’s claims and ethical norms.

Despite these allegations, Gallego prevailed in his Senate campaign and became an outspoken critic of Secretary Collins. In April, he announced plans to block all VA nominations until Collins reconsiders proposed staffing cuts tied to efficiency demands from the Trump administration. This sentiment was echoed in May through a letter supported by Arizona Democrats Senator Mark Kelly and Representatives Greg Stanton and Yassamin Ansari.

Gallego’s tweet reflected his stance on the matter: “I blocked your 3 political appointees because you are going to fire 83,000 VA employees, thousands of whom will be Veterans.”

In response during a May 15 hearing, Collins countered by stating the focus is on payroll consolidation, not reductions in essential medical staff. He clarified, “We don’t need the issues we have with human resources being run in every location, again, with hundreds of employees.”

As it stands, no official inquiry into Senator Gallego regarding the NRSC allegations has been initiated.

Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.