Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) on Sunday said that all three branches of government should be subject to a stock trading ban “sooner rather than later,” echoing some colleagues on the other side of the aisle.
“One of the things that I think is important for members of Congress is we have to live above reproach. We have to stay above any sort of questions like that. And that’s why, you know, me personally, I just sold all my publicly traded stocks,” Stutzman said during an appearance on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday.”
“I’m just staying out of it … it’s not that important to me that I have to have it. I think other members, you know, should … They need to decide for themselves,” he added.
When asked if a potential ban should include the executive branch, Stutzman said, “I think so.”
“I mean, in fact, I think any — take the three branches, take all of them.”
His comments come days after the U.S. Office of Government Ethics released financial disclosure forms that showed President Trump disclosed at least $220 million in financial transactions in the securities of major U.S. companies earlier this year.
The reports show a cumulative value of between $220 million and around $750 million, with purchases including securities linked to companies like Oracle, Meta Platforms, Bank of America, Microsoft and Goldman Sachs.
Stutzman said a wide-reaching stock trading ban would help reestablish the public’s trust in lawmakers and all three branches of government.
“Ultimately, if the trust of the American people is so low in Congress, then we need to rebuild and regain that trust back. And this would be one step,” he told Chris Stirewalt.
