Independent Watchdog: Greg Gianforte Made More Investments During the Pandemic Than 99% of Congress
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 30, 2020
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press@montanademocrats.org
Independent Watchdog: Greg Gianforte Made More Investments During the Pandemic Than 99% of Congress
Nonpartisan watchdog is calling for laws to bar legislators like Gianforte from making individual stock trades
Helena, MT – According to a new analysis from the nonpartisan watchdog Campaign Legal Center, Rep. Greg Gianforte made 138 stock trades between February 2nd – four days before the first American died from COVID-19 – and April 8th, more investments than 99% of his colleagues. Already the richest elected member of Congress, Gianforte invested up to $4,595,000 during this time frame, while more than 64,000 working Montanans were being laid off from their jobs.
Recent reporting has shown that since the beginning of the year, Greg Gianforte has invested up to $1,000,000 in pharmaceutical, medical supply, and consulting companies connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Campaign Legal Center is calling to ban these types of trades – which Republican Attorney General Tim Fox has harshly criticized – and noted that, “ground for suspicion remains as members of Congress buy and sell stock for their personal portfolios, while simultaneously picking winners and losers in the market as they craft economic stimulus packages.”
“COVID-19 has rocked Montana working families – but for Greg Gianforte, it’s proven to just be another lucrative investment opportunity,” said MDP Executive Director, Sandi Luckey. “Greg Gianforte always finds a way to stoop to new lows – this is just the latest example.”
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