"At least four U.S. members of Congress purchased stock in defense‐contracting companies between May and June 2025 while serving on congressional committees which oversee or fund the defense sector. All four trades were in companies that receive U.S. government contracts and whose share prices subsequently appreciated. While the law permits members of Congress to trade stocks, ethics watchdogs say these transactions raise serious appearance ‐of‐conflict concerns because the lawmakers may influence the very industry they are invested in."
"A handful of congressional members have embodied the adage, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." There's no other way to say it than to say it's disappointing for a government body already suffering from low public opinion to have such criminals in its midst. It's not uncommon to ask any American on the street and hear a response that someone believes most members of Congress are "a bunch of crooks.""
Multiple members of Congress have been convicted for various crimes. Many congressional convictions relate to fraud, bribery, and related finance scandals. Members of the House tend to get into more legal trouble than that of the Senate. At least four members purchased stock in defense-contracting companies between May and June 2025 while serving on committees that oversee or fund the defense sector, and those companies' share prices subsequently appreciated. The transactions complied with the law but raised appearance-of-conflict concerns among ethics watchdogs. Named lawmakers include Senators Markwayne Mullin and John Boozman and Representatives Gilbert Cisneros and Julie Johnson. Public perception of congressional corruption remains low.
Read at 24/7 Wall St.
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