Responding to inquiries about her wealth and stock trades, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene launched a defensive response, refuting accusations that her net worth has significantly increased since entering Congress. The Georgia Republican, who has made numerous stock trades, including some that coincided with market fluctuations, has come under scrutiny for her financial activities. Despite the controversy, Greene maintains that her wealth predates her time in Congress and is managed by a financial manager, while also alleging that the criticism is politically motivated. The situation has spurred discussions about potential restrictions on stock trading by members of Congress, with calls for greater transparency and accountability.
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Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s investment in Palantir Technologies surged 142% since April, shortly before ICE awarded the company a $30 million contract. Greene, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, clarified that her financial advisor controls her investments. This occurred around the same time that White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino sold Trump Media stock the day before tariffs were announced, causing markets to plummet. These events have led to increasing public support for banning stock trading by members of Congress.
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Sens. Kelly and Ossoff reintroduced the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act, mandating that members of Congress, their spouses, and dependents either place their stock portfolios in blind trusts or divest holdings. This bipartisan effort enjoys overwhelming public support, with 86% of Americans favoring a ban. The bill aims to prevent the use of insider information for personal financial gain and restore public trust in Congress. Several senators cosponsored the bill, highlighting the widespread concern over the ethical implications of Congressional stock trading.
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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene purchased stocks in several companies significantly impacted by President Trump’s tariffs, including Lululemon, Dell, Amazon, and RH, despite a market downturn fueled by tariff concerns. Some of these investments, notably RH, have already shown significant gains since her purchase. This activity occurs amidst ongoing legislative efforts to ban members of Congress from stock trading due to perceived conflicts of interest. Greene maintains her investments are managed by a financial advisor and are fully disclosed.
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The House Ethics Committee closed investigations into four representatives—three Republicans and one Democrat—for alleged campaign finance violations. While acknowledging evidence of non-compliance with personal use of campaign funds, the committee found insufficient proof of intentional misuse. The committee cited ambiguous FEC rules and issued updated guidance, prompting criticism that it effectively legalized personal use of campaign funds and disregarded evidence of wrongdoing. This decision, described as a “New Year’s Eve Ethics Massacre,” has been condemned by ethics experts as a failure to hold members of Congress accountable. The committee’s actions have raised concerns about the independence and effectiveness of the congressional ethics process.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson will request that the House Ethics Committee not release its report on former Representative Matt Gaetz, citing established House procedure. The report details a three-year investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, drug use, and improper gifts against Gaetz, who resigned from Congress shortly before the report’s anticipated release. Johnson argues that releasing the report on a former member sets a damaging precedent, despite some senators’ desire to review its contents. However, the Senate Judiciary Committee could subpoena the report, and its contents may ultimately become public. Gaetz’s controversial nomination as Attorney General by President-elect Trump adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
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John Q. Hosedrinker