AZ Senate Candidate Ruben Gallego’s Father Arrested for Drug Trafficking, Assault

Arizona Senate candidate and Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego is under intense scrutiny after new reports surfaced detailing his father’s criminal history, including drug trafficking for a Mexican cartel and a recent arrest for assault. The revelations have cast a shadow over Gallego’s campaign, raising questions about his family ties and personal history.

During a recent press conference, Gallego was confronted about his father’s criminal background. Although he admitted that his father was convicted of drug trafficking, Gallego sidestepped direct questions about his alleged connections to Mexican cartels. His father, Jose Angel MarineLarena, was involved in trafficking marijuana and cocaine for the Juarez Cartel in Chicago during the 1990s, a fact that has come to light through the release of police records and his green card.

The issue has been further amplified by media personality Laura Loomer, who has been vocal about the senator’s father’s criminal past. She obtained and shared arrest records and the green card of Jose Angel MarineLarena, showing his previous involvement in the cartel and more recent legal troubles, including an assault in 2024.

Gallego’s father, MarineLarena, was arrested in 1996 for trafficking drugs, with law enforcement finding $481,000 worth of marijuana and cocaine in his possession. At the time of his arrest, he was a resident alien from Chihuahua, Mexico. Despite this conviction, he was not deported, raising concerns about the immigration and criminal justice systems’ handling of his case.

In 2008, Ruben Gallego changed his name from “MarineLarena” to “Gallego,” reportedly to distance himself from his father’s criminal past. Gallego claimed that he made this decision because his father had abandoned him. However, this explanation has been questioned by some, as Ruben’s estranged relationship with his father appears to contradict his own history of abandoning his pregnant wife in 2016, much like his father did to him. This personal scandal continues to follow Gallego, despite his attempts to shield the details from public view, including efforts to keep his divorce records sealed.

Gallego’s ex-wife, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, had a public and contentious split from the congressman. Allegations of infidelity, including rumors that Gallego had an affair with a Washington, D.C., lobbyist, have also clouded his public image. Critics accuse him of hypocrisy for presenting himself as a family man during his recent Senate campaign, while his personal life tells a different story.

The controversy surrounding Ruben Gallego’s family intensified in 2024 when his father was arrested for battery. MarineLarena was charged with assaulting his female landlord, Edyta Jagas, in Chicago after a dispute over unpaid rent. According to the police report, MarineLarena punched Jagas twice in the face during the confrontation. This violent behavior echoes the concerns critics have raised about Gallego’s own conduct, with some suggesting that Gallego’s temper may have been inherited from his father.

Laura Loomer, who has been highly critical of Gallego, has pointed out the senator’s alleged history of aggressive behavior toward women. She noted that Gallego was one of only two Arizona legislators in the past decade to face sexual harassment complaints. There were reports of female employees leaving his office in tears due to his hostile work environment. While these accusations have not resulted in any legal action, they have added to the negative narrative surrounding Gallego’s character.

LOOK:

It’s interesting that @RubenGallego attacked @KariLake as a “liar” in his opening statement tonight. I can’t help but notice his own lies tonight, in which he called himself a “family man” and said he grew up poor with a single mom.

Ruben Gallego cheated on his wife when she was… pic.twitter.com/VAasDZpnbq

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) October 10, 2024

EXCLUSIVE:

🚨🚨🚨🚨

I have exclusively obtained the arrest reports and the green card of the father of Arizona Democrat Senate candidate Ruben Gallego @RubenGallego, who supports open borders.

Meet Ruben Gallego’s convicted felon father, who trafficked drugs for the Juarez… pic.twitter.com/Yw68Lr3iZX

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) October 10, 2024

EXCLUSIVE:

🚨ARREST RECORDS AND GREEN CARD PROVE AZ DEMOCRAT SENATE CANDIDATE RUBEN GALLEGO’S FATHER TRAFFICKED MARIJUANA AND COCAINE FOR THE MEXICAN CARTELS IN CHICAGO🚨

In 1996, Arizona Democrat US Senate candidate Ruben Gallego’s @RubenGallego’s criminal, Mexican immigrant… https://t.co/BXMvZov7fI pic.twitter.com/leQxK1LsB9

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) October 10, 2024

Kamala Harris is in Arizona today… @RubenGallego has endorsed her and served as the National Security Chair for Kamala Harris’s @KamalaHarris Presidential campaign.

The media should ask Kamala and the @azdemparty about Ruben’s cartel drug dealer daddy who is still committing… https://t.co/BXMvZov7fI pic.twitter.com/hSaFhQOqVa

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) October 10, 2024

The revelations about Gallego’s family have arrived at a critical moment in his Senate campaign. Gallego is facing off against Republican Kari Lake, who has capitalized on these scandals, painting Gallego as untrustworthy and hypocritical. Lake, who has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, has highlighted Gallego’s family connections to the cartel, claiming that his father’s involvement in drug trafficking disqualifies him from serving in the U.S. Senate.

During a recent debate, Gallego attempted to present himself as a self-made man who was raised by a single mother on a secretary’s salary. He claimed to have slept on the floor during his childhood until he earned a scholarship to Harvard University. However, his opponents have disputed this narrative, accusing him of fabricating his background. Gallego attended Evergreen Park High School in an affluent suburb of Chicago, a fact that complicates his portrayal of a poor, underprivileged upbringing.

Gallego’s support for open border policies has also drawn criticism, given his father’s involvement in drug trafficking and continued criminal behavior. His opponents argue that his reluctance to take a firm stance on border security may be influenced by his personal connections to a criminal involved in cartel activity. Critics have demanded to know why Gallego’s father was not deported after his 1996 drug conviction, suggesting that political protection may have played a role in shielding him from the consequences of his actions.

In addition to the ongoing scrutiny of his father’s criminal history, Gallego is facing lawsuits from news outlets like the Washington Free Beacon, which are seeking to unseal his divorce records. These legal battles only add to the growing list of controversies surrounding his campaign, raising doubts about his suitability for office.

As the race for the Arizona Senate seat intensifies, Ruben Gallego’s ties to his father’s criminal past and his own personal scandals may continue to haunt him. The revelations about his father’s cartel connections, drug trafficking, and assault charges have provided his political opponents with ample ammunition to question his integrity and fitness for public office.