Congressional candidate Phil Arballo is denying a published report that he is behind a Fresno porn production company.

In a brief interview with GV Wire, Arballo said he has nothing to do with any company producing adult entertainment, as alleged in a Thursday story published by The San Joaquin Valley Sun.

“It’s a trash story written by a trash news site based on no facts,” Arballo said. “It’s a nonstory.”

Arballo, D-Fresno, plans in 2024 to run for Congressional District 13, a seat currently held by John Duarte, R-Modesto. A perennial candidate, Arballo also ran in 2020 when he lost in the general election to Devin Nunes; and failed to advance past the primary in 2022 for CD 13.

He also ran in a special Fresno City Council election in 2019 and finished sixth in a six-person race. Arballo stopped campaigning before the end of the race.

Felipe Jones Is Arballo’s Stage Name

The Sun story connected Arballo to a company called Next 2 Nuthin’ Production$, through social media accounts operated by Felipe Jones. In a posting on Twitter, the company called itself “Cen. Cal’s newest and most premium armature adult ent. co.”

A screenshot of the Felipe Jones Twitter account from January a source shared with GV Wire listed Arballo as a “co-owner” of Next 2 Nuthin’ Productions.

Felipe Jones is the stage name Arballo uses for his singing career.

Arballo said that since January, he only has personal social media accounts. He said the only business he operates is Arballo Consulting Services, licensed through the city of Fresno.

“I transferred (the other sites) to a local social media company,” Arballo said. He declined to identify the company.

Twitter accounts for Felipe Jones and Next 2 Nuthin’ Productions are no longer publicly accessible or have been disabled altogether.

Local Democrat Leader Not Convinced

Arballo’s denials ring hollow for Navkaran Gurm, a one-time Fresno City Hall staffer who also is a member of the Fresno County Democratic Party Central Committee.

“I don’t believe it, quite frankly,” Gurm said. “I think it’s just a great spin job, but it’s pretty clear that the account belonged to Mr. Arballo,” Gurm said.

Gurm said Arballo has lost support among local Democrats.

“You have someone that’s consistently running for office but hasn’t really done a good job of showing anyone why he should be an elected official and why he deserves local support,” Gurm said.

Also a Campaign Consultant, Bike Committee Chairman

When not running for office, Arballo consults for other candidates. He advised Democrat Mike Barkley against Tom McClintock, R-Roseville, for Congressional District 5. McClintock won by 20 points.

Currently, Arballo is a consultant for Andy Morales, a Fresno Democrat who filed to run in Congressional District 20 against Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield. Morales declined to comment through his campaign team.

Arballo is also chairman of the Fresno Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Mayor Jerry Dyer’s office did not respond to a request for comment on Arballo’s situation.

A January tweet from the account of “Felipe Jones,” an alter-ego of Phil Arballo. He says he no longer operates the account. (Twitter)