On Monday night, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took a strong stance against Marjorie Taylor Greene after it was revealed that Greene made significant stock purchases just hours before former President Donald Trump’s unexpected tariff pause.
The revelation has sparked calls for an investigation into possible insider trading among members of Congress.
Greene’s Stock Moves Raise Red Flags
Newly released financial disclosures show that Greene invested between $21,000 and $315,000 in stocks during a crucial period, coinciding with Trump’s social media post urging people to buy stocks.
Ocasio-Cortez, speaking at a rally in Idaho alongside Bernie Sanders, couldn’t hold back her criticism.
She pointed directly to Greene, questioning how much profit she made from the market turmoil that followed Trump’s tariff announcement.
“How much did you make off of people’s despair? How much did you make off of that panic? How much did you make off of that suffering?” Ocasio-Cortez asked. “No more. We can’t accept it.”
Hakeem Jeffries Joins the Chorus of Criticism
Ocasio-Cortez wasn’t the only high-profile Democrat to criticize Greene.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined in, calling Greene and others “crooks, liars, and frauds” in an interview with Jen Psaki.
He called the situation a prime example of corruption, emphasizing the need for legislation to prevent members of Congress from trading stocks while in office.
The Impact of Trump’s Tariff Announcement on the Market
The stock market took a massive hit following Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcement, losing a staggering $6.6 trillion in just two days.
The announcement, which initially spooked investors, was followed by a swift reversal just days later, spurred by Trump’s announcement of a tariff pause.
This sudden shift in policy saw the stock market rebound, with major indexes experiencing some of their biggest gains in decades.
Greene’s Financial Moves Under Scrutiny
As part of the mandatory disclosure process for members of Congress, Greene reported her stock trades, including significant investments in Treasury bills (T-Bills), Apple, Devon Energy, and Merck & Co.
Critics are questioning whether these trades were made based on insider knowledge of the upcoming tariff changes.
Despite the backlash, Greene denied any wrongdoing.
She has repeatedly stated that she relies on a financial advisor to manage her investments and that her trades are fully transparent.
In a statement, Greene called any investigation into her actions “utterly absurd.”
The Growing Debate Over Insider Trading in Congress
The controversy surrounding Greene’s stock trades is part of a larger debate about insider trading in Congress.
Ocasio-Cortez has long pushed for stricter regulations to prevent members of Congress from profiting from their positions.
She pointed out that members of Congress have 45 days to disclose trades, meaning the deadline to report trades made around the time of Trump’s tariff pause is fast approaching.
Greene’s Response and Future Outlook
In the face of mounting criticism, Greene has maintained that her trades were made with complete transparency and that her financial dealings are no different from others in Congress.
However, this episode has reignited calls for greater accountability among lawmakers when it comes to financial transactions during times of national crisis or policy shifts.
As the investigation into her stock trades unfolds, this controversy is unlikely to fade anytime soon, with both sides of the aisle continuing to scrutinize the ethics and legality of lawmakers’ financial activities.