For Nancy Pelosi, it’s money over everything.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is facing renewed scrutiny after reports surfaced about multiple stock trades involving major tech companies that were filed on Inauguration Day. The trades, conducted by her husband, Paul Pelosi, during December and early January, have raised questions, especially considering Paul Pelosi’s history of investing in the tech sector.
Under current congressional rules, members of Congress and their spouses are required to disclose certain stock transactions through periodic transaction reports. These reports provide insight into the trades made by lawmakers and their immediate family members, allowing the public to monitor potential conflicts of interest.
According to Pelosi’s latest filing, Paul Pelosi engaged in several significant stock transactions involving companies like Alphabet (Google’s parent company), Amazon, Nvidia, and Apple. Among the trades reported were the purchase of 50 call options for Alphabet and 50 call options for Amazon. Each set of call options was valued between $250,000 and $500,000, and these options had a strike price of $150, allowing them the right to purchase the stocks at that price. Pelosi also disclosed the sale of 10,000 shares of Nvidia and 31,600 shares of Apple on December 31.
In addition, Paul Pelosi made a significant move on January 14 by purchasing 50 more Nvidia call options, valued between $250,000 and $500,000, and exercised 500 options on December 20, valued between $500,000 and $1 million. Other trades included investments in Palo Alto Networks, Tempus AI, and Vistra Corp., which also raised eyebrows due to their proximity to the couple’s political influence.
While Speaker Pelosi has denied any prior knowledge of or involvement in these transactions, the timing and scope of Paul Pelosi’s trades are fueling calls for reforms. Lawmakers, from both sides of the aisle, have expressed concern that congressional spouses may be able to capitalize on potential insider information. This concern is not new; recent efforts to pass legislation banning members of Congress and their families from owning stock have gained bipartisan support. However, these efforts have yet to result in meaningful legislative action.
As Pelosi’s stock trades continue to make headlines, the debate over whether lawmakers and their families should be allowed to trade stocks remains a contentious issue. With public trust at stake, many believe that Congress needs to take decisive action to ensure that elected officials, and their families, cannot profit from inside knowledge or the appearance of such an opportunity. Given the growing calls for transparency and accountability, this issue will likely continue to be a topic of debate throughout the current Congress.