Congress Caught Red-Handed: Lawmakers' Stock Trades Mirror Trump's Tariff Chaos!

2025-06-12 00:01:01.418

Days before President Trump's surprise pause on tariffs, more than a dozen congressional lawmakers engaged in thousands of dollars' worth of stock transactions, including significant purchases as the market plummeted. A CNN analysis of financial filings shows that these transactions occurred on April 7th and 8th, just before Trump's announcement. While lawmakers claim the trades were managed by third-party advisors, the timing raises concerns about potential insider trading. Experts and some on Capitol Hill question whether lawmakers can play the market without suspicion of using privileged information for personal gain. The article highlights the ethical dilemma and calls for increased transparency and potentially a ban on lawmaker stock trading. The analysis covers transactions from March 31st to April 9th, involving 35 lawmakers with purchases ranging from $8.6 million to $27.9 million and sales from $5.9 million to $22.4 million. Lawmakers involved offered explanations, citing third-party management and non-stock investments, but the issue continues to spark debate about ethics and the integrity of Congress. The article also points to previous instances of similar activity and the ongoing efforts to ban congressional stock trading, with support from key figures including House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.