AZ Senate Candidate Ruben Gallego’s Father’s Criminal Past Resurfaces

Posted on by David Gregoire

Arizona Senate candidate and Democrat Representative Ruben Gallego has come under fire due to the resurfacing of his father’s criminal past. New reports reveal that Gallego’s father, José Angel MarineLarena, was a convicted drug trafficker linked to Mexican cartels and has recently been arrested again for assault. These revelations have raised concerns about Gallego’s family ties, timing, and transparency, especially as he campaigns for one of the most crucial Senate seats in the country.

The controversy escalated after a reporter at a press conference asked Gallego about his father’s criminal background. While Gallego admitted that his father is a convicted drug trafficker, he sidestepped a direct denial of having any connection to the cartels, further fueling skepticism. This disclosure is especially damaging as Gallego has branded himself as a champion for justice and reform, even while details about his family’s troubling history continue to emerge.

In 1996, Gallego’s father, MarineLarena, was arrested in Chicago for drug trafficking. At the time, authorities found $481,000 worth of marijuana and cocaine linked to the Juarez cartel in his possession. Although MarineLarena was a resident alien from Chihuahua, Mexico, U.S. immigration authorities never revoked his legal status. This has prompted questions about why he wasn’t deported despite his significant criminal activities, and whether he was shielded from harsher penalties by unknown influences.

More recently, in March 2024, MarineLarena was arrested for punching his female landlord, Edyta Jagas, in the face twice after a dispute over unpaid rent. The police report from this incident, along with his green card and mugshot, has since been circulated online, most notably by conservative commentator Laura Loomer. Loomer also claimed that Gallego changed his name from MarineLarena to Gallego to distance himself from his father’s criminal history and ties to the cartels.

Gallego’s personal life has also come under intense scrutiny, adding to the scandal. In 2008, Gallego changed his last name to his mother’s maiden name, claiming that his father abandoned him during his childhood. However, critics argue that the name change was more likely an attempt to conceal his father’s illegal activities, particularly as Gallego began his political career.

Ironically, Gallego has faced similar accusations of abandonment. In 2016, he left his pregnant wife, Kate Gallego, now the mayor of Phoenix, to pursue a relationship with a Washington, D.C. lobbyist. The timing and secrecy surrounding his personal life have sparked rumors of an affair, and efforts to unseal his divorce records are currently ongoing.

These revelations have cast a shadow over his public persona as a family man. During a recent debate against his Republican opponent, Kari Lake, Gallego painted a picture of himself as someone who grew up poor, raised by a single mother. However, according to Laura Loomer, Gallego attended the affluent Evergreen Park High School in Illinois and had no student debt while attending Harvard University.

Gallego’s role as a key political figure has raised additional concerns about his stance on immigration and crime. He served as the National Security Chair for Kamala Harris’s 2020 presidential campaign, a position that involved addressing border security. Given his father’s history as a cartel-affiliated drug trafficker and his vocal support for open borders, critics argue that Gallego’s personal ties may influence his political decisions.

Loomer and other conservative figures have taken aim at Gallego’s advocacy for more lenient immigration policies. They claim his father’s ability to remain in the U.S. despite his criminal record exemplifies the failures of current immigration enforcement, which Gallego supports. These accusations are part of a broader narrative suggesting that Gallego’s policies are influenced by his father’s criminal past and cartel connections.

The revelations about Gallego’s father, combined with questions about his personal integrity, have left many wondering how they will affect his Senate campaign. Arizona is a key battleground state, and this controversy could shift public opinion at a critical moment in the election cycle.

Critics argue that Gallego’s background makes him unfit to represent Arizona in the U.S. Senate. The combination of his father’s criminal record, his own alleged indiscretions, and his policy positions on immigration have raised serious concerns among voters who prioritize law and order.

Gallego’s campaign has thus far attempted to downplay the impact of these revelations, but as the election draws closer, it remains to be seen whether this scandal will overshadow his platform and derail his Senate aspirations.

Ruben Gallego’s Senate campaign is now facing a major challenge as his father’s criminal history and recent arrest come to light. With questions about his own transparency, integrity, and policy positions, Gallego will need to navigate these controversies while convincing Arizona voters that he is the right candidate to represent them in the U.S. Senate. Whether this scandal proves to be a turning point in the race remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly put Gallego’s campaign under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

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