PHOENIX — On Thursday, divorce records concerning Arizona Democratic Senate candidate Ruben Gallego and his former spouse, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, were made public following an Arizona court’s decision to unseal a majority of documents from the case that dates back seven years.

The released records provide minimal information about the couple’s notable union and the circumstances surrounding its dissolution. Importantly, no claims of abuse or infidelity were present, which could have significantly impacted Arizona’s scrutinized Senate race, a pivotal contest likely to influence the political control of the U.S. Senate.

The unsealing of the records followed a petition by The Washington Free Beacon, a conservative media outlet, to make the documents available to the public. Both Ruben and Kate Gallego had opposed this request, emphasizing their desire to safeguard their child’s privacy and safety. This unsealing occurred just a day after the Arizona Supreme Court rejected the couple’s plea for an emergency order to keep the documents hidden.

Republican nominee Kari Lake has leveraged the release of these records to launch a broader assault on Ruben Gallego’s character, insinuating in various interviews and social media statements that the documents would reveal significant detrimental information. She has referred to the issue as a “massive story” and has suggested that the couple’s attempt to keep the records sealed indicates there is something substantial they wish to conceal.

“I hope everyone who says they support him will pause until we learn why he abandoned his wife during her pregnancy,” Lake commented on KTAR-FM this week. She also speculated about the possibility of spousal abuse.

The divorce decree, which was acknowledged by both parties, explicitly states that “the parties acknowledge and agree that there was no domestic violence during the marriage or that significant domestic violence did not occur.”

In a statement released on Thursday, the Gallegos criticized Lake for exploiting the divorce case and asserted that the welfare of their son, who is now seven years old, has always been their top priority.

“We demand an apology from Kari Lake for misrepresenting our family and the nature of our divorce,” their statement read. “She is willing to sacrifice our son’s privacy and security for a fleeting political advantage.”

Lake’s campaign team has not immediately replied to requests for comment.

The divorce documentation outlines the arrangements for shared parenting and custody regarding their son, who was born while the legal proceedings were still ongoing. However, most specific details regarding their financial assets were kept confidential in the publicly disseminated records.

The divorce case was resolved just four months after it began, with no signs of disputes related to asset division or custody arrangements.

Yavapai County Judge John Napper, who ordered the records to be unsealed, remarked that his review of the case file would likely leave many people disappointed. He described it as “one of the most straightforward divorce files I have ever encountered.”

The announcement of the Gallegos’ split just before the arrival of their first child sent shockwaves through the Arizona political landscape back in 2016. Speculation regarding the reasons for their divorce and the obscured nature of the records have presented challenges for Ruben Gallego during his Senate campaign.

Both Gallegos have characterized their divorce as a “private matter” and have been largely reticent in discussing it publicly. However, Ruben Gallego, a former U.S. Marine, has hinted that post-traumatic stress disorder from his Iraq deployment played a role in their relationship challenges.

Kate Gallego publicly endorsed her ex-husband’s Senate bid last year, and they frequently make appearances together, often accompanied by their son.

The couple made significant efforts to maintain the confidentiality of their divorce records. Ruben Gallego initiated the divorce proceedings in Yavapai County, situated 100 miles from Phoenix and where neither party resided, and requested that the judge seal the entire case file, a rare measure.

Judge Napper ruled that the case had been wrongfully sealed and dismissed many of the confidentiality requests made by the Gallegos.

Just last week, the Arizona Court of Appeals agreed with The Washington Free Beacon’s request to unseal the records, a decision that went into effect on Thursday, following the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision not to intervene late Wednesday.