Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Latest Controversy Rocks the House GOP—Details Inside

Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is under renewed scrutiny after financial disclosures revealed she bought shares of Alphabet Inc. (Google’s parent company) just five days before a federal judge issued a market-moving antitrust ruling that sent the stock sharply higher. Key facts • Transaction timing: Greene purchased between $1,001 and $15,000 of Alphabet Class C stock on Aug. 28, according to her periodic transaction report filed with the House clerk. • Court decision: On Sept. 2, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta rejected the Justice Department’s bid to force Google to divest major assets, a ruling that lifted Alphabet shares more than 6 percent in after-hours trading. • Broader activity: The same disclosure shows 12 additional trades that day, including purchases of FedEx, Exelon, and Ryman Hospitality, as well as a sale of U.S. Treasury bills. Watchdog backlash Government-ethics advocates say the timing underscores gaps in the STOCK Act, which is meant to deter insider trading by members of Congress. “Whether or not non-public information was used, these kinds of perfectly timed trades erode public trust,” said Kedric Payne of the Campaign Legal Center in a statement circulated on social media Wednesday. Greene’s response The congresswoman dismissed the criticism as “utterly absurd,” insisting all of her investments are managed by a third-party adviser and comply with House rules. “Democrats and their media allies are desperate to distract from Biden’s failures, so they manufacture scandals about my 401(k),” Greene posted on X. Ethics landscape • Congressional trading under fire: Bipartisan bills to ban lawmakers from owning individual stocks have stalled despite high-profile cases involving Greene, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and others. • Penalties rarely enforced: Violations of the STOCK Act typically result in $200 late-filing fees, a slap on the wrist critics call inadequate. • Public sentiment: A 2024 Morning Consult poll found 77 percent of voters support prohibiting congressional stock trading. Portfolio performance Ironically, despite the Alphabet windfall, Greene’s overall portfolio has lagged the S&P 500 over the past 12 months, delivering about a 1.8 percent return versus the index’s double-digit gain, according to Benzinga’s government-trade tracker. What’s next • Possible investigation: House Democrats on the Oversight Committee are weighing a formal ethics complaint, aides told reporters Thursday evening. • Legislative momentum: Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) vowed to re-introduce his bipartisan Ban Stock Trading for Government Officials Act when the Senate reconvenes next week. • Market watch: Alphabet’s compliance with Judge Mehta’s order to share search-engine data with competitors will be closely monitored by investors and regulators alike. Bottom line Marjorie Taylor Greene’s well-timed Alphabet purchase has reignited the debate over whether members of Congress should be allowed to trade individual stocks at all. With bipartisan pressure mounting and voter anger simmering, Capitol Hill may soon face a decisive showdown on ethics and investing.