US Senator Demands White House Respond to Ethical Concerns Over Former Aide's Prediction Market Betting

on November 12, The Block revealed that Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley wrote to the White House Counsel demanding that the administration respond to allegations that a prompt operator allegedly used non-public information to place bets on prediction markets, while also questioning the White House's inadequate handling of related ethical issues.

The two lawmakers asked whether other employees have misappropriated insider information for personal betting or trading gains, and whether the White House provides training on the use of non-public information. Earlier, in August, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ordered Gabriel Perez to pay more than $172,000 after he was accused of reading a prepared draft before Trump delivered his remarks and placing bets on related prediction markets on Kalshi. The White House has not immediately responded to media requests for comment.