PHOENIX – Ruben Gallego said Wednesday that claims that he wanted to keep his divorce file secret to avoid potential problems with his campaign were untrue and instead wanted to do so to protect his son's privacy.

Gallego told KTAR News 92.3 FM's Outspoken with Bruce and Gaydos that he wants to protect his son Michael. Ruben Gallego and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego divorced in 2016 after six years of marriage while she was pregnant with their son.

Gallego's opponent in the U.S. Senate, Kari Lake, recounted Broomhead show On Wednesday, he said he didn't want the file made public because it “contains some damning information about him.”

“We have a son who has not chosen to run for office, but we need to protect him and his privacy, and that's all we've asked for all along,” Gallego said. “Kari Lake and her allies know this because the judge told them there is nothing there, and yet they continue to attack, and of course we are worried.”

Gallego has asked the Arizona Supreme Court to keep the file secret, saying the conservative news outlet that asked for it to be unsealed was doing so for “political reasons.”

Lake, who is not involved in the case, said she did not believe the motives of Gallego, who has since remarried.

“We don’t know the truth about Ruben,” Lake said.

Ruben Gallego isn't Lake's first target

Gallego is not the first politician to be in Lake's crosshairs.

The Republican candidate has targeted John McCain and his family, Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer and others since entering politics.

A defamation lawsuit Richer filed against Lake is in its final stages after Lake filed for a default judgment, meaning her lawyers asked a judge to proceed directly to the damages phase of the suit.

“This is what we want to protect our son from because she would do anything,” Gallego said. “She will say anything and hurt anyone just to gain power.”

Follow @DannyShapiro13