Senate Panel Moves Forward on Stock Trading Ban

A Senate committee has advanced legislation led by Sen. Josh Hawley to ban members of Congress, the president, and the vice president from trading stocks, seeking to address concerns over lawmakers' use of insider knowledge. The bill, previously named after Nancy Pelosi, has faced sharp criticism from former President Trump and some Republicans, who argue it unfairly targets political opponents and could have unforeseen effects. Trump has publicly accused Pelosi of profiting from insider information and called for an investigation, accusations Pelosi has firmly denied. Due to political friction, the bill now includes a delayed timeline for applying stock trading restrictions to the presidency. Despite disagreements, both Pelosi and Hawley agree that banning congressional stock trading is necessary for public trust. No lawmaker has been convicted of insider trading since 2017, highlighting ongoing debate about congressional ethics.