Vigilant News

Eternal Vigilance is the price of liberty.

Nancy Pelosi

71 Members of Congress are Currently in Violation of Insider Trading Laws

By ,

Business Insider, along with several other media outlets, reported on Monday that they’ve identified at least 71 members of Congress who have failed to properly report their financial dealings on Wall Street.

The bipartisan group of legislators was found to be in violation of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012. Congress passed the law to combat insider trading and conflicts of interest, forcing lawmakers to become more transparent in regard to their financial dealings. 

Under the STOCK Act, members of Congress are required to disclose trades worth more than $1,000 that they, their spouses, or their dependent children have made within 30 to 45 days of the transactions. It is now being reported that 71 members of Congress have failed to properly report their trades, in violation of the Act.

According to Business Insider, the legislators that have been found in violation of the law “offer excuses including ignorance of the law, clerical errors, and mistakes by an accountant.” The stock deals in question range in value from the five-figure range to millions of dollars.

Below is a list of all the lawmakers who’ve recently violated the STOCK Act in one way or another:

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama

Sen. Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas

Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat from Colorado

Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island

Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida

Sen. Tom Carper, a Democrat from Delaware

Sen. Bill Hagerty, a Republican from Tennessee

Sen. Cynthia Lummis, a Republican from Wyoming

Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat from Michigan

Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona

Rep. Tom Malinowski, a Democrat from New Jersey

Rep. Pat Fallon, a Republican from Texas

Rep. Diana Harshbarger, a Republican from Tennessee

Rep. Susie Lee, a Democrat of Nevada

Rep. Madison Cawthorn, a Republican from North Carolina

Rep. Katherine Clark, a Democrat from Massachusetts

Rep. Blake Moore, a Republican from Utah

Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland

Rep. Mo Brooks, a Republican from Alabama

Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado

Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Republican from Texas

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat from Florida

Rep. Kathy Manning, a Democrat from North Carolina

Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat from New Jersey

Rep. Kevin Hern, a Republican from Oklahoma

Rep. Brian Mast, a Republican from Florida

Rep. Brad Schneider, a Democrat from Illinois

Rep. Michael Guest, a Republican from Mississippi

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, a Democrat from New York

Rep. Lori Trahan, a Democrat from Massachusetts

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, a Democrat from Pennsylvania

Rep. John Rutherford, a Republican from Florida

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey

Rep. Mark Green, a Republican from Tennessee

Rep. David Trone, a Democrat from Maryland

Rep. Pete Sessions, a Republican from Texas

Rep. Dan Meuser, a Republican from Pennsylvania

Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, a Democrat from Texas

Rep. Kathy Castor, a Democrat of Florida

Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican from Florida

Rep. Bill Pascrell, a Democrat of New Jersey

Rep. August Pfluger, a Republican from Texas

Rep. Brian Higgins, a Democrat from New York

Rep. Cheri Bustos, a Democrat from Illinois

Rep. Steve Chabot, a Republican from Ohio

Rep. Victoria Spartz, a Republican from Indiana

Rep. Rick Allen, a Republican from Georgia

Rep. Kim Schrier, a Democrat from Washington

Rep. Kurt Schrader, a Democrat from Oregon

Rep. Mike Kelly, a Republican from Pennsylvania

Rep. Chris Jacobs, a Republican from New York

Rep. Bobby Scott, a Democrat from Virginia

Rep. Austin Scott, a Republican from Georgia

Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Democrat from Colorado

Rep. Dwight Evans, a Democrat from Pennsylvania

Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat from New York

Rep. Warren Davidson, a Republican from Ohio

Rep. Lance Gooden, a Republican from Texas

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, a Republican from Tennessee

Rep. Michael Burgess, a Republican from Texas

Rep. Cindy Axne, a Democrat from Iowa

Del. Michael San Nicolas, a Democrat from Guam

Rep. Peter Welch, a Democrat from Vermont

Rep. Jim Banks, a Republican from Indiana

Rep. Mike Garcia, a Republican from California

Rep. Rob Wittman, a Republican from Virginia

Rep. Alan Lowenthal, a Democrat from California

Rep. Jim Hagedorn, a Republican from Minnesota

Rep. Roger Williams, a Republican from Texas

 

In most cases, the lawmakers either reported their transactions late or failed to report them altogether. The apparent lack of urgency when it comes to complying with the STOCK Act could be in part due to the lax penalties for violation, as the fines have been described as “nominal.” For such a serious matter, the punishment is laughably insignificant. Lawmakers who violate the STOCK Act face a fine of $200, a price that most inside traders are likely willing to pay.

When Obama first signed the STOCK Act into law, it was celebrated by a bipartisan cadre of lawmakers and was generally seen by the public as a win. Once Obama and company had reaped the praise, it didn’t take long for him to sign a bill reversing the more productive portions of the bill, leading many to believe the STOCK Act was always meant to become more of a vestigial placation rather than an effective law.

Surprisingly, Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi did not make the list despite her name being synonymous with insider trading, her exploits are storied even among the liberal media. Her absence from the list is presumably because reported her transactions on time and was actually in compliance, but the family is not quite off the hook.

Back in March, Pelosi’s husband Paul purchased 2,500 shares of Tesla stock as the Democrats were mobilizing their green energy spending and electric vehicle push. In June of this year, Paul Pelosi bought millions of dollars worth of Nvidia stock ahead of the chip-manufacturing bill vote.

Pelosi’s Taiwan Visit Causes China to Sanction Her, Cease Climate Talks with US

By ,

Reports indicate that China will be suspending negotiations with the U.S. on both military relations, climate change, and other issues in the wake of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan this week.

This move should come as no surprise, as China threatened retaliation immediately after Pelosi announced her visit to Taiwan. China claims that Taiwan is Chinese territory and has been increasingly vocal about that position as the island tries to exert its own independence.

On Thursday, China began conducting aggressive military exercises just off of Taiwan coasts that are scheduled to run at least through this Sunday, according to the Associated Press.

The exercises have included firing missiles over the island toward Japan. China regularly opposes the idea that Taiwan is self-governing and independent, despite the fact that the small island nation has its own military contacts with foreign governments.

The Chinese Communist Party’s Foreign Ministry has said that all dialogue between the U.S. and Chinese regional commanders and defense department officials would be canceled, including talks on military maritime safety.

In addition, the ministry has also said that cooperation on criminal investigations, returning illegal immigrants, transnational crime, illegal drugs, and climate change will all be suspended.

The sentiment in Taiwan is divided about Nancy Pelosi’s trip, some government officials met with her while certain civic groups, politicians, and business and industry representatives on the island of Taiwan began protesting Pelosi’s visit.

Though many believe that it was only a matter of time before China invaded Taiwan, it seems as though Pelosi’s trip may have accelerated these plans. At least the people of Taiwan got to hear this powerful speech from the House Speaker:

Today it was reported that South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol refused to meet with Nancy Pelosi, not wanting to cut his vacation short, and opting instead to hold a 40-minute phone call with Pelosi, during which they discussed the US-South Korean alliance, foreign policy, and other issues, his office said.

Chinese Carrier and Tank Movement Cause #WWIII to Trend as Nancy Pelosi Lands in Taiwan Despite Threat of “Serious Consequences”

By ,

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, despite China’s repeated warnings, landed in Taiwan early this morning. The curious stunt has caused China to flex its might by moving aircraft carriers into the South China Sea as well as positioning tanks on Chinese beaches opposite Taiwan.

Pelosi arrived after reports flooded Chinese social media Tuesday that Beijing has positioned tanks on the beaches of Fujian along the Taiwan Strait.

In addition, reports and footage have surfaced of large military movements of troops and equipment. Movements have been seen occurring on major highways and railways throughout the Chinese province of Fujian, directly adjacent to the islands of Quemoy and Matsu.

Many commercial flights slated to depart from several cities in the Fujian province have been abruptly canceled in the last 24 hours. Xiamen Airlines put out a statement that the flight cancelations were due to “regional traffic control” and did not elaborate further.

Some claim that this could be considered an invasion warning, the military occupation of the Quemoy and Matsu Islands as the first step by Communist China to subjugate Taiwan and eliminate U.S. influence in the Western Pacific.

The speaker landed despite these escalations in a move that’s been seen as brave by some and foolish by others. 

The country of Taiwan itself seems to have mixed feelings about the visit. Civic groups, politicians, and business and industry representatives on the island of Taiwan began protesting against US Pelosi’s potential visit. 

Wu Cherng-dean, chairman of the pro-reunification New Party, said on Tuesday that the party is firmly opposed to Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, saying that Pelosi is “harmful to Taiwan without bringing any benefits.”

A number of Taiwan civic groups gathered in front of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) as early as Monday afternoon, with hundreds of people holding placards with slogans such as “American witch get out of Taiwan, China,” and “get out, trouble maker Nancy Pelosi!”.

The rest of the world chimed in as well, as Twitter saw #WWIII trend as Pelosi arrived. This is likely due to the multiple threats related to the trip.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said during a daily press briefing prior to her arrival”

“We would like to tell the United States once again that China is standing by, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army will never sit idly by, and China will take resolute responses and strong countermeasures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,”

Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesperson Senior Colonel Tan Kefei said:

“As the ‘third most important figure’ of the U.S. government, if Speaker Pelosi visits Taiwan, the move will seriously violate the one-China principle and the provisions in the three China-U.S. joint communiques, severely endanger China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity… It will have a critically negative impact on the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and is bound to cause extremely serious harm to the relations between the two countries and their militaries, and lead to further escalation of tension across the Taiwan Straits.”

Pelosi is also experiencing some criticism back home as well:

Former Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein tweeted, “It’s another Cuban missile crisis moment. Will Pelosi blunder us into WWIII with China?”

Vigilant News will provide updates as more information becomes available.