Ruben Gallego Responds to GOP Letter to Reopen Government

Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) responded to a letter signed by Arizona's congressional Republicans, specifically calling out Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) on X.

As Cactus Politics previously covered, Reps. Ciscomani, David Schweikert (R-AZ), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ), and Paul Gosar (R-AZ) sent a letter to Sens. Gallego and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), accusing them of "making unrelated policy demands that have nothing to do with government funding." "It is far past time to stop holding Arizonans hostage and to put the American people first," the Arizona Republicans argue.

Sen. Gallego called out Rep. Ciscomani in a brief video posted on X, acknowledging that he received the letter but Ciscomani is not at the Capitol. "Let us know when you're ready to come back to D.C. and actually work. I'll be here fighting to protect Arizonans' health care," Gallego expressed in a caption.

In the video, Gallego accuses Ciscomani of "backing Speaker Mike Johnson to make sure that Adelita Grijalva, your seatmate, doesn't get sworn in because that would mean that all the pedophiles are exposed on the Epstein list, right?"

Gallego then pointed out that President Donald Trump "cut a big project in your district. A big energy project in your district that is going to cost your district money." He further blamed Ciscomani for his vote on the "clean" continuing resolution (CR), which repeals the tax credits found in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and reportedly drives up health insurance premiums for 300,000 Arizonans.

"Hope you get on that plane soon," Gallego concluded. "Hope you will actually get back to D.C., stop covering up for these pedophiles, and actually start fighting for Arizona, because right now, you have done nothing. You have only cost Arizona more and more jobs. And again, stop covering for the pedophiles, Juan, it is disgraceful."

Ciscomani responded to the video, urging Gallego to "try having the courage to vote to end the shutdown & stand WITH the thousands of AZ federal workers instead of trampling ON them."

"You're cashing a paycheck while turning family's livelihoods into political theater," the Arizona Republican added, referencing the earlier dispute between him and Gallego about receiving Congressional salaries during the shutdown.