Trump trades more securities than all Congress; backs stock-buying ban

…conflicts of interest. The debate has largely focused on whether elected officials could use non-public information when trading, but Kedric Payne of the Campaign Legal Center said that is not the only concern. “ Even if they’re not trading the stock on non-public information, they still create the appearance of a conflict of interest because they can still influence the value of the stock through their official duties ,” he said. Republicans' stance Republicans are also seeking to turn opposition to congressional stock trading into a campaign issue ahead of this fall's closely watched midterm elections. “The American people deserve…

…through their official duties,” he said. Republicans' stance Republicans are also seeking to turn opposition to congressional stock trading into a campaign issue ahead of this fall's closely watched midterm elections. “ The American people deserve to know that those they elect to public office actually serve the American people and not their own wallets ,” Representative Anna Paulina Luna said during a speech at a two-day Republican convention in Dallas last week. Trump trades and the break-up of other lawmakers' trades The stock-trading prohibition approved by House…

…White House spokesman Davis Ingle, however, said Trump's investments are managed independently by third-party financial institutions through computer-based model portfolios that track indexes such as the Schwab 1000. “ Neither President Trump nor any member of his family has any ability to direct, influence, or provide input regarding how the portfolio is invested or when investments are bought or sold ,” he said. Trump has previously criticised lawmakers who have sought to extend restrictions on stock trading to the presidency. Last year, after Senator Josh Hawley introduced legislation that would have applied a…

…president and vice president, Trump attacked the Republican senator. The Missouri senator was a “pawn” who was “playing right into the dirty hands of the Democrats,” Trump said on the social media platform he owns. “ I don’t think real Republicans want to see their President, who has had unprecedented success, TARGETED, because of the ‘whims’ of a second-tier Senator named Josh Hawley! ” Trump said. Trump’s stand Trump has also called for an investigation into stock trading involving former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband, whose technology-heavy portfolio has frequently outperformed the…