Ex-White House Aide Fined $172,000
Gabriel Perez, a former White House teleprompter operator, has been ordered to pay $172,539 for using advance access to President Donald Trump's speeches to make illegal trades on a prediction-market platform, and will also repay $107,539 in profits
A former White House teleprompter operator has been fined $172,539 by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for using advance access to President Donald Trump's speeches to make illegal trades on a prediction-market platform. Gabriel Perez must repay $107,539.02 in profits and pay a $65,000 civil penalty, and has also agreed to a three-year trading ban.
Perez traded presidential 'mention market' contracts on Kalshi between December 2025 and February 2026, while working at the White House. The contracts are event contracts that pay out based on whether a president uses specific words or phrases in speeches. Perez had access to Trump's speeches before they were delivered and used that information to trade contracts for his personal benefit.
The CFTC credited KalshiEX with assisting in the matter, and noted that Perez's $65,000 penalty represented a substantial discount due to his 'exemplary cooperation' with the investigation. Perez was placed on unpaid leave and is no longer working for the federal government.
## What happened next Perez has agreed to cease and desist from further violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations, in addition to the three-year trading ban. The CFTC's action against Perez is a significant step in preventing the misuse of nonpublic information for personal gain.
## Why it matters The case highlights the importance of maintaining the integrity of financial markets and preventing the misuse of inside information. The CFTC's enforcement action against Perez demonstrates the agency's commitment to protecting market participants and maintaining fair and transparent markets. The incident also raises questions about the handling of sensitive information within the White House and the potential risks of insider trading.
The outcome of the case serves as a reminder of the consequences of using nonpublic information for personal gain, and the importance of complying with regulatory requirements. As the CFTC continues to monitor and enforce compliance with financial regulations, cases like Perez's will remain a key focus of the agency's efforts to maintain fair and transparent markets.
