Latest news with #StopTradingonCongressionalKnowledge
The Hill
25-07-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Ethics panel: Pennsylvania Republican violated code of conduct with spouse's stock trades
The House Ethics Committee 'found substantial evidence' that Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) violated the code of conduct for the lower chamber when his wife profited off stock trades for a company the congressman was focusing on in Washington. The report — which spans 28 pages and has three packets of supporting documents — cleared Kelly of intentionally causing his wife to trade based on insider information and having a conflict of interest, determining there wasn't evidence to prove those two wrongdoings. But the panel found that Kelly, a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, breached the House's code of conduct 'by failing to meet his duty of candor.' The committee ordered he and his wife to divest their investments in Cleveland-Cliffs, the steel manufacturer at the center of the report. 'Representative Kelly's conduct with respect to Cleveland-Cliffs and his wife's stock purchase raised significant concerns for the Committee, even if it did not rise to the level of insider trading or clearly violate conflict of interest rules,' the committee wrote, later adding Kelly 'has not demonstrated sufficient appreciation for the harm to the institution caused by the appearance of impropriety.' The panel's investigation focuses on a series of trades of Cleveland-Cliffs stock that Kelly's wife, Victoria, made in the last five years. Cleveland-Cliffs in 2020 acquired AK Steel, which is the sole producer of grain oriented electrical steel (GOES) in the U.S. GOES is produced in Butler, Pa., a town in Kelly's district. In early 2020, Cleveland-Cliffs had said it may have to close the Butler location and lay off employees if the Trump administration did not implement Section 232 tariffs, which would protect the production of GOES in the U.S. Kelly took part in actions in Washington to address the matter. On April 28 of that year, the Commerce Department told Cleveland-Cliffs — and Kelly learned — it would begin a Section 232 investigation for some GOES-based steel products, according to the report. The next day, the panel learned, Victoria Kelly bought 5,000 shares of Cleveland-Cliffs stock for $23,075. The investigation was announced on May 4. The committee said it was unable to determine if Victoria Kelly was made aware of the development before making the trade. But, the congressman was working from home at the time after testing positive for COVID-19 and told the committee 'Mrs. Kelly would've heard any of my conversations,' adding that she 'sits around for most of the time I'm on the phone,' according to the report. The panel said it could definitely determine if she heard the conversation. The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act, enacted in 2012, prohibits members and staff from engaging in insider trading using information learned in official capacities. While Kelly was interviewed as part of the investigation, his wife 'refused to participate in a voluntary interview or to respond to written questions from the Committee, citing her prior cooperation with document requests as well as health concerns,' according to the report. The Congressman also said his wife did not want to speak to the committee because she felt the process was 'invasive.' 'The Committee did not receive full cooperation from Mrs. Kelly and was therefore unable to determine whether her stock purchase was improper,' the report reads. The panel did, however, find that the investment in Cleveland-Cliffs 'was an outlier' in her portfolio, noting that unlike other trades that were made at her firm's discretion, that transaction 'had to be instructed and confirmed directly by Mrs. Kelly in order for the transaction to be completed because it was not on PNC's investment platform.' The move marked her first purchase of individual stock in a year, according to the report, and was different from the mainly funds and bonds on her account. Kelly said he believed his wife made the transaction because 'she thought the stock was so low priced, it'd be foolish not to… I know that she thought she made a hell of a buy.' In August 2020, however, Kelly's office told a local news outlet inquiring about the purchase that it was made 'to show her support for the workers and management of this 100-year old bedrock of their hometown, where they both are life-long residents.' The second transaction examined by the committee was made in January 2021, shortly after Cleveland-Cliffs in December 2020 acquired a steel manufacturing corporation that caused its stock to skyrocket in value. Victoria Kelly that month sold all her shares in the company for $87,551.06, turning a $64,476.06 profit. 'None of the witnesses interviewed by OCC or the Committee, including Representative Kelly, provided an explanation for why Mrs. Kelly chose to sell her stock at that time. Representative Kelly told the Committee he did not speak with Mrs. Kelly about the sale at any point,' the report reads. Then in June 2024, Kelly disclosed that his wife purchased between $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of Cleveland-Cliffs back in March, as the congressman's office was involved in a matter involving the company and the Department of Energy. In March, the Energy Department made a decision on the matter that protected the facility in Butler. As a result of the findings, the panel recommended that Kelly and his wife 'divest all of Cleveland-Cliffs stock should he continue to take official actions relating to the company.' 'It is rare for the Committee to recommend divestment of stocks where there is a potential appearance of a conflict of interest. As Representative Kelly himself noted, however, he is an 'insider' when it comes to Cleveland-Cliffs, by virtue of his position as the representative for his district,' the report reads. In a statement responding to the Ethics report, Kelly said: 'This investigation has unnecessarily lasted for nearly five years.' 'In the years since this investigation began, the Cleveland Cliffs Butler Works plant faced an uncertain future due to the Biden administration's reckless energy policies. Throughout this process, I have fought for the 1,400 workers at the plant, I've spoken with these workers, and they appreciate the hard work we have done to fight for those jobs and for Butler. My family and I look forward to putting this distraction behind us,' he added.
USA Today
10-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Trump's deputy chief of staff unloaded Trump Media stock the day before tariff announcement
Documents reveal that Dan Scavino, Donald Trump's deputy White House chief of staff, sold off up to $5 million worth of Trump Media stock just before the president announced tariffs in April Dan Scavino had months to sell off up to $5 million worth of Trump Media stock after he joined President Donald Trump's administration as a deputy chief of staff in January. But the top Trump advisor picked April 1, the day before Trump announced sweeping tariffs, to make the sale, according to disclosure reports obtained by USA TODAY. After markets closed on April 2, Trump announced tariffs on imports from countries worldwide. Markets plunged on the news, dropping 12% by April 9, when Trump paused the tariffs. Trump Media stock, too, fell 11%. The disclosure filings also show that Sergio Gor, Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, sold Trump Media securities valued between $15,001 and $50,000 on March 27, just days before the tariffs were announced. In response to USA TODAY's questions about the timing of the divestments, White House Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers said, 'White House senior staff, including Deputy Chief of Staff Scavino and PPO Director Gor, fully comply with the executive branch ethics rules, attending required ethics briefings and complying with conflict of interest and financial reporting obligations.' After Trump's announcement on what he called "Liberation Day," there was a widespread market sell-off that lasted until April 9, when the tariffs were paused. Since then, the markets have rallied, recouping those losses and hitting record highs. However, Trump Media stock is still down from its April 1 price of $20.26 per share. The stock closed at $19.25 a share on July 8. The 2012 Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge, or STOCK, Act prohibits officials in the federal government and Congress from trading securities based on nonpublic information. Officials are required to disclose their trading activity if they buy or sell securities worth more than $1,000. More: Trump brought in $57 million from crypto venture, millions from sneakers and bibles 'Any stock trades by senior White House staff in the time period immediately preceding the Liberation Day announcement have to be viewed with suspicion,' said Virginia Canter, chief counsel at State Democracy Defenders Action, a group co-founded by former Obama ethics official Norman Eisen. 'The facts and circumstances surrounding the trades will determine if an investigation for insider trading is merited,' said Canter, a former White House Associate Counsel to Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. USA TODAY found no evidence that Scavino or Gor had beforehand knowledge of the tariff announcement. But ethics experts say that when trades are placed in proximity to a major news event from the White House, they raise ethical questions as well as concerns of wrongdoing. "White House officials are supposed to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest, but owning or selling shares in the sitting president's media company does just the opposite," said Cynthia Brown, Senior Ethics Counsel at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, a progressive watchdog nonprofit. Typically, a well-timed trade allows an individual to cut losses and reinvest the proceeds in less risky investments. More: Stocks close higher despite go-slow Fed, poor Prime Day showing Ethics experts have long advocated for stricter rules around stock trading by government officials, including requirements to place holdings in blind trusts or allowing officials to only hold highly diversified index funds. Because of their positions, officials are constantly privy to nonpublic information, but experts say it's difficult to prove whether that knowledge informs their trading moves. An Office of Government Ethics spokesman said the office cannot comment specifically on transactions by Scavino, Gor, or other officials. 'OGE publishes ethics disclosures, associated documents, and oversight correspondence to its website as soon as practicable,' said Patrick Shepherd, the spokesman. With the divestments by Scavino and Gor, three senior Trump administration officials have divested from the president's social media company just before the tariff announcement triggered a broader stock market selloff. Attorney General Pam Bondi previously disclosed an up to $5 million divestment in Trump Media on April 2. The tariff announcement came after the markets closed that day. ProPublica first reported the divestiture in May. The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment from multiple media outlets at the time. In Bondi's case, she was obligated to sell her stake within 90 days of her Senate confirmation, according to the terms of her ethics agreement with the Office of Government Ethics. The financial disclosures by these officials also confirmed that the president brought in people to his administration who worked for his publicly listed company. For example, Scavino worked as a consultant for the company from 2021 through January 2025, receiving $860,000 in consulting fees, his financial disclosures show. More: A court just canceled 'click to cancel.' How the ruling affects you. 'These disclosures show that Trump's senior advisors' investments are tied into their boss's media company,' said Brown, ethics counsel at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics. 'While that may not be prohibited by law by itself, when coupled with the extent to which Trump's media outlets are being integrated into the Administration's agenda, it begs the question of whether this is another mechanism for the President and his advisors to financially benefit personally from their government agenda,' Brown said. The President himself has billions in the equity market through his cryptocurrency ventures and social media company, Truth Social. Bloomberg News reported in May that the President's net worth has more than doubled to about $5.4 billion since his re-election. His recent financial disclosure revealed that he is earning millions from his crypto ventures and royalties from the sales of Bibles and watches.
Kuwait Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
US ban on stock trading act bill proposal of 2025
US ban on stock trading act bill proposal of 2025 By Abdullah Alkayat Insider trading is still an everyday issue in the United States, the first country in the world to define what constitutes inside information and make it illegal in 1934, after Congress enacted the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 following what is known as the 'Great Crash' of 1929, during which the stock market lost 89 percent of its value. Since that day, insider trading has been taken seriously by the public, and the SEC has pursued full enforcement. However, practice has shown that there are some loopholes—particularly for elected members of the US Congress—who have access to inside information due to their roles. There have been insider trading investigations in which some Congress members were found to have violated the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by trading based on non-public information while in office, making profits or avoiding losses prior to any public announcements, at which point it is too late for the general public to participate and benefit. To make the rules more strict for congressional trading and combat insider trading, President Obama signed the 'Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012' into law. This law prohibited members of Congress from trading on non-public information obtained during their work and required public disclosure of their stock trades within 45 days. The law also applies to the spouses of Congress members. Nevertheless, the law seemed like a paper tiger—it has not prevented insider trading from occurring. In fact, the 2020 congressional insider trading scandal showed that such practices were still happening. The 2020 congressional insider trading scandal erupted after several US Senators were accused of selling large amounts of stock following a private Senate briefing about the emerging COVID-19 pandemic, weeks before the public fully grasped its severity. Among those scrutinized was Senator Burr, then-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, who drew particular attention after reports revealed he sold between $600,000 and $1.7 million in stocks shortly after the briefing. Critics argued that these lawmakers may have used non-public information for personal financial gain while downplaying the threat of the virus publicly. Although the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission launched investigations, most were eventually closed without charges. Nevertheless, the scandal fueled public outrage, intensified scrutiny of the STOCK Act of 2012, and revived calls for stronger laws to prevent elected officials from trading individual stocks while in office. To make insider trading laws more strict, the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act of 2025 bill is being introduced in the US Congress to address growing public concern over lawmakers using non-public information for personal financial gain. Although the STOCK Act of 2012 requires members of Congress to disclose trades within 45 days and prohibits insider trading, it has proven inadequate due to weak enforcement and delayed or incomplete disclosures. The new bill seeks to close these loopholes by completely prohibiting members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from owning or trading individual stocks while in office. Instead, they must divest or place assets into blind trusts, removing the temptation to act on confidential information. This reform is seen as essential to restoring public trust, enhancing transparency, and preventing conflicts of interest that undermine democratic accountability. With recent scandals and reports showing that some lawmakers' portfolios have outperformed the market, public demand for stronger ethical standards has intensified. The bill aims to eliminate both real and perceived corruption, simplify compliance and enforcement, and ensure that legislators focus solely on serving the public—not enriching themselves. In Kuwait, the likelihood of introducing a bill similar to the US Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act is relatively low, primarily due to the unique characteristics of the Kuwaiti political and financial landscape. Kuwait has a much smaller and less complex capital market compared to the United States, and the number of elected officials in the National Assembly is limited to just 50 members—significantly fewer than the hundreds of legislators in the US Congress. This smaller scale reduces the systemic risk and public concern associated with insider trading by lawmakers. Moreover, the overlap between legislative activity and private market influence is less pronounced in Kuwait, where political influence often centers around public-sector employment and budgetary matters rather than corporate regulation or securities. While ethical oversight and financial transparency remain important, the perceived urgency for legislation banning stock trading by elected officials has not gained the same traction, in part because the infrastructure and market depth necessary to facilitate such trading at a concerning scale are simply not present. More importantly, under Kuwaiti law, the definition of an insider as presented in the glossary of the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) and codified in the CMA Law encompasses any person in a position that grants them access to material, non-public information concerning a listed company. This broad definition clearly includes members of the National Assembly of Kuwait. Therefore, if a member of Parliament exploits insider information in violation of the CMA Law, they are subject to immediate prosecution by the Capital Markets Authority.
Miami Herald
12-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Full List of Lawmakers Who Traded Stocks After Trump's Tariffs Announcement
In the days that followed President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" announcements, the climax of his second-term trade policy, lawmakers reported hundreds of stock trades. Newsweek has compiled a ranking of trades made by members of Congress between April 3, the day after President Trump unveiled reciprocal tariffs on dozens of trading partners, and when these were paused on April 9. The imposition and subsequent reversal of the president's sweeping tariff policies resulted in significant stock market volatility, with indexes crashing following the announcement and those who purchased in the interim benefitting from a boost when these were placed on hold. The high number of trades made by lawmakers during this period has again raised questions about the ethics of congressional stock trading. Members of Congress are permitted to buy and sell stocks, provided they disclose these within 30 days of the transaction, per the 2012 Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act. However, many lawmakers, including some of those in the list below, have advocated that lawmakers be banned from stock trading altogether, given the insider knowledge they may have of market-moving events, as well as the concerns this could raise among citizens' regarding possible conflicts of interest. Surveys have also shown that overwhelming bipartisan majorities are in favor of banning stock trading by members of Congress. Below is a list of trades made by U.S. lawmakers between April 3 and April 9, based on publicly available disclosures tracked by The list includes both sales and purchases during this time and is ranked according to the total number. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Republican, Pennsylvania Total trades: 182 Representative Josh Gottheimer, Democrat, New Jersey Total trades: 87 Representative Jefferson Shreve, Republican, Indiana Total trades: 57 Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican, Georgia Total trades: 42 Representative Julie Johnson, Democrat, Texas Total trades: 31 Representative Jared Moskowitz, Democrat, Florida Total trades: 25 Senator Markwayne Mullin, Republican, Oklahoma Total trades: 20 Representative Michael McCaul, Republican, Texas Total trades: 18 Senator John Boozman, Republican, Arkansas Total trades: 14 Representative Dwight Evans, Democrat, Pennsylvania Total trades: 13 Representative April Delaney, Democrat, Maryland Total trades: 10 Representative Bruce Westerman, Republican, Arkansas Total trades: 7 Senator Dave McCormick, Republican, Pennsylvania Total trades: 6 Representative Tony Wied, Republican, Wisconsin Total trades: 5 Senator Ashley Moody, Republican, Florida Total trades: 4 Representative Gilbert Cisneros, Democrat, California Total trades: 3 Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat, Rhode Island Total trades: 2 Representative Mike Collins, Republican, Georgia Total trades: 2 Representative Kevin Hern, Republican, Oklahoma Total trades: 2 Representative Rick Larsen, Democrat, Washington Total trades: 2 Representative Vicente Gonzalez, Democrat, Texas Total trades: 2 Representative Gilbert Cisneros, Democrat, California Total trades: 1 Representative Victoria Spartz, Republican, Indiana Total trades: 1 Representative Max Miller, Republican, Ohio Total trades: 1 Representative Donald Sternoff Beyer, Democrat, Virginia Total trades: 1 Despite being the two most prolific traders on this list, Pennsylvania Republican Bresnahan and New Jersey Democrat Josh Gottheimer have both in the past advocated for regulations on congressional stock trading. In 2024, Bresnahan penned an article in the Pottsville Republican Herald in which he said he would "happily co-sponsor" bipartisan legislation aimed at banning congressional stock trading. In May, following a report on his stock trades in the New York Times, Bresnahan introduced a bill entitled the Transparency in Representation through Uniform Stock Trading Ban Act, which would go into effect in 2027 and require lawmakers to place certain assets into a blind trust, an arrangement in which assets are transferred to and managed by a third party without the individual's knowledge or control. Bresnahan said he would work to move his own personal assets into a blind trust in a May 6 press release. Gottheimer told CNBC in 2022 that he didn't believe members of Congress should not be "be directly involved in trading," and instead said hand control of their investments over to a blind trust, later cosponsoring legislation to this end. Gottheimer said that his own investments were managed by an outside party, adding: "I think that's the way it should be: Hands off, third-party, no decision-making from a member of Congress." Newsweek has reached out to the offices of Representatives Bresnahan and Gottheimer via phone for comment. Republican Representative Mike Lawler, in response to a chart showing the gains made by a stock purchased by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, wrote: "Just another reason why stock trading by members of Congress or their spouses should be banned. The appearance of impropriety, or worse, is too great." Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, in a statement following the introduction of the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act, said: "Members of Congress should not be playing the stock market while we make Federal policy and have extraordinary access to confidential information. Stock trading by members of Congress massively erodes public confidence in Congress and creates a serious appearance of impropriety, which is why we should ban stock trading by members of Congress altogether." President Trump's Liberation Day tariffs are still subject to the 90-day pause announced on April 9, which will expire in early July. The administration has said that this window will allow for comprehensive negotiations with America's main trading partners. Related Articles Donald Trump Issues Next Trade Deal Update After ChinaTrump Tariffs Face Delay as White House Struggles To Meet 90 Deals DeadlineTrump Says Trade Deal With China 'Done'Retail Layoffs Soar Nearly 300% So Far This Year 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
12-06-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Full List of Lawmakers Who Traded Stocks After Trump's Tariffs Announcement
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. In the days that followed President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" announcements, the climax of his second-term trade policy, lawmakers reported hundreds of stock trades. Newsweek has compiled a ranking of trades made by members of Congress between April 3, the day after President Trump unveiled reciprocal tariffs on dozens of trading partners, and when these were paused on April 9. Why It Matters The imposition and subsequent reversal of the president's sweeping tariff policies resulted in significant stock market volatility, with indexes crashing following the announcement and those who purchased in the interim benefitting from a boost when these were placed on hold. The high number of trades made by lawmakers during this period has again raised questions about the ethics of congressional stock trading. Rob Bresnahan speaks at a campaign rally for Donald Trump at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, Aug. 17, 2024, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. President Donald Trump speaks during a 'Make America Wealthy Again' trade... Rob Bresnahan speaks at a campaign rally for Donald Trump at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, Aug. 17, 2024, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. President Donald Trump speaks during a 'Make America Wealthy Again' trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., speaks to the media on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 21, 2020. More Carolyn Kaster / Chip Somodevilla / Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo / Getty Images / AP Photo Members of Congress are permitted to buy and sell stocks, provided they disclose these within 30 days of the transaction, per the 2012 Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act. However, many lawmakers, including some of those in the list below, have advocated that lawmakers be banned from stock trading altogether, given the insider knowledge they may have of market-moving events, as well as the concerns this could raise among citizens' regarding possible conflicts of interest. Surveys have also shown that overwhelming bipartisan majorities are in favor of banning stock trading by members of Congress. Which Lawmakers Made Trades After Liberation Day? Below is a list of trades made by U.S. lawmakers between April 3 and April 9, based on publicly available disclosures tracked by The list includes both sales and purchases during this time and is ranked according to the total number. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Republican, Pennsylvania Total trades: 182 Representative Josh Gottheimer, Democrat, New Jersey Total trades: 87 Representative Jefferson Shreve, Republican, Indiana Total trades: 57 Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican, Georgia Total trades: 42 Representative Julie Johnson, Democrat, Texas Total trades: 31 Representative Jared Moskowitz, Democrat, Florida Total trades: 25 Senator Markwayne Mullin, Republican, Oklahoma Total trades: 20 Representative Michael McCaul, Republican, Texas Total trades: 18 Senator John Boozman, Republican, Arkansas Total trades: 14 Representative Dwight Evans, Democrat, Pennsylvania Total trades: 13 Representative April Delaney, Democrat, Maryland Total trades: 10 Representative Bruce Westerman, Republican, Arkansas Total trades: 7 Senator Dave McCormick, Republican, Pennsylvania Total trades: 6 Representative Tony Wied, Republican, Wisconsin Total trades: 5 Senator Ashley Moody, Republican, Florida Total trades: 4 Representative Gilbert Cisneros, Democrat, California Total trades: 3 Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat, Rhode Island Total trades: 2 Representative Mike Collins, Republican, Georgia Total trades: 2 Representative Kevin Hern, Republican, Oklahoma Total trades: 2 Representative Rick Larsen, Democrat, Washington Total trades: 2 Representative Vicente Gonzalez, Democrat, Texas Total trades: 2 Representative Gilbert Cisneros, Democrat, California Total trades: 1 Representative Victoria Spartz, Republican, Indiana Total trades: 1 Representative Max Miller, Republican, Ohio Total trades: 1 Representative Donald Sternoff Beyer, Democrat, Virginia Total trades: 1 Despite being the two most prolific traders on this list, Pennsylvania Republican Bresnahan and New Jersey Democrat Josh Gottheimer have both in the past advocated for regulations on congressional stock trading. In 2024, Bresnahan penned an article in the Pottsville Republican Herald in which he said he would "happily co-sponsor" bipartisan legislation aimed at banning congressional stock trading. In May, following a report on his stock trades in the New York Times, Bresnahan introduced a bill entitled the Transparency in Representation through Uniform Stock Trading Ban Act, which would go into effect in 2027 and require lawmakers to place certain assets into a blind trust, an arrangement in which assets are transferred to and managed by a third party without the individual's knowledge or control. Bresnahan said he would work to move his own personal assets into a blind trust in a May 6 press release. Gottheimer told CNBC in 2022 that he didn't believe members of Congress should not be "be directly involved in trading," and instead said hand control of their investments over to a blind trust, later cosponsoring legislation to this end. Gottheimer said that his own investments were managed by an outside party, adding: "I think that's the way it should be: Hands off, third-party, no decision-making from a member of Congress." Newsweek has reached out to the offices of Representatives Bresnahan and Gottheimer via phone for comment. What People Are Saying Republican Representative Mike Lawler, in response to a chart showing the gains made by a stock purchased by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, wrote: "Just another reason why stock trading by members of Congress or their spouses should be banned. The appearance of impropriety, or worse, is too great." Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, in a statement following the introduction of the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act, said: "Members of Congress should not be playing the stock market while we make Federal policy and have extraordinary access to confidential information. Stock trading by members of Congress massively erodes public confidence in Congress and creates a serious appearance of impropriety, which is why we should ban stock trading by members of Congress altogether." What Happens Next? President Trump's Liberation Day tariffs are still subject to the 90-day pause announced on April 9, which will expire in early July. The administration has said that this window will allow for comprehensive negotiations with America's main trading partners.
