Sen. Ruben Gallego is facing backlash over a video he posted on social media, in which he claimed to have taken time off from his Senate campaign to care for his newborn daughter and wife.
In the video, Gallego described how his daughter Isla was born during a competitive Senate campaign, and how he took two months off to be with his wife and newborn. He emphasized the importance of being a husband and a father, saying that it matters more to him than any campaign or job.
However, conservatives and a former Jill Biden spokesperson quickly fired back, accusing Gallego of being arrogant or having no self-awareness for airing the video given his history of serving his first wife with divorce papers when she was nine months pregnant.
'He's either terribly arrogant or has zero self-awareness,' White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson said. 'Probably both. And who's running his comms operation that thought this post would go over well?'
GOP consultant Matt Wolking added that Gallego's post was 'unbelievably bad instincts' and that many people would now learn about his behavior. Matt Whitlock, a former adviser to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, questioned whether people were unaware that Gallego left his first wife when she was about to deliver their baby.
The campaign account for Kari Lake also fired back at Gallego, pointing out that the child from his second marriage was born after he left his first wife nine months pregnant. 'To clarify: this child is from your second marriage, after you left your first wife nine months pregnant to be with your lobbyist mistress — correct?' the account said.
Gallego's controversial divorce was exposed after court records revealed that he served his then-wife divorce papers when she was 'likely to give birth any day.' Many critics have accused Gallego of being hypocritical, given his recent claims of being a devoted husband and father.
Katie Miller, the wife of White House policy advisor Stephen Miller, chimed in, saying that Gallego served his first wife divorce papers when she was nine months pregnant and then entered into a relationship with a 25-year-old lobbyist. Gallego's current wife, Sydney Gallego, responded by saying that the couple didn't meet until years later.
Gallego has fended off allegations of donor-funded travel and luxury purchases by arguing that he is a regular parent who sometimes brings his kids and family to fundraising functions. However, recent reporting has suggested that he used campaign funds for family travel, Disneyland and Super Bowl tickets.
Gallego defended his actions, saying that he threw a Super Bowl fundraiser in Arizona where they raised money for his election. 'You have to go where the money is to raise money,' he added.
