The Most Suspect Stock Trades by Politicians Revealed Including the Republican Who Can't STOP Flipping Shares

Capitol Trades data continues to shed light on the controversial intersection of political power and personal wealth, revealing how some members of Congress appear to profit from timely trades despite growing calls for reform.

While federal law prohibits trading on material non-public information, enforcement is minimal and the current system allows lawmakers to buy and sell stocks in industries they directly oversee. From defense committee members purchasing defense stocks to financial regulators acquiring bank shares, the blurred lines have only deepened public distrust.

Proposals in the Senate would extend a trading ban to the president and vice president, but opposition remains fierce. Wealthier lawmakers argue such rules would force unfair divestment, while others claim their $174,000 annual salary is insufficient without investment opportunities. As the debate drags on, trading activity in Congress shows no signs of slowing.

One of the most scrutinized figures this year is Rep. Rob Bresnahan, a freshman legislator and former CEO of his family’s construction firm. Campaigning on a promise to ban congressional stock trading, Bresnahan has nonetheless reported more transactions than nearly any other lawmaker, at least 617 trades since taking office in January. He maintains that his financial advisors control his portfolio, but his refusal to halt trading has drawn accusations of hypocrisy.

The scrutiny intensified after disclosures revealed that just before a major Trump-backed healthcare bill passed, one that included Medicaid cuts, Bresnahan sold shares in Centene, a healthcare company that later saw its value plunge. He insists the sale complied with the STOCK Act. Still, critics point to other trades, such as buying and selling Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, despite his stated restrictions against investments tied to foreign adversaries.

Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has also drawn attention for her profitable tech trades. In April, as markets dipped following Trump’s tariff announcement, Greene purchased shares in AI-focused companies, including Palantir and Impinj, both of which have since more than doubled in value. Palantir, notably, is a federal contractor working with the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security, on whose oversight committee Greene serves.

These trades are not isolated incidents. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, long criticized for her husband Paul Pelosi’s uncanny market timing, has continued to see extraordinary returns. Between 2023 and mid-2025, over 70 percent of their trades were profitable, including lucrative call options on AI leaders like Nvidia and Alphabet. While Pelosi maintains she has no direct involvement, the couple’s track record has fueled speculation and partisan attacks, with Trump recently accusing them of outperforming “every Hedge Fund in 2024.”

The optics are difficult to ignore. While the public faces economic uncertainty, many in Congress appear to navigate and profit from the markets with remarkable precision. As momentum builds for reform, Capitol Trades data serves as a reminder that in the halls of power, access often translates into advantage. Whether lawmakers will close this gap or continue to trade under the current system remains an open question.