Former White House teleprompter operator accused of insider trading must turn over profits, pay fine

Former White House teleprompter operator accused of insider trading must turn over profits, pay fine COLLIN BINKLEY WASHINGTON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PUBLISHED 1 HOUR AGO Open this photo in gallery: A helicopter from Marine Helicopter Squadron One flies past the White House on Saturday. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission also dealt Perez a three-year trading ban. JACQUELYN MARTIN/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS COMMENTS SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. A former White House teleprompter operator accused of using inside knowledge to make bets on the prediction market Kalshi has been ordered to turn over more than US$100,000 in profits and pay a US$65,000 fine as part of a settlement with federal authorities. The settlement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, announced Friday, also dealt Gabriel Perez a three-year trading ban. Perez was placed on unpaid leave from his job at the White House after reports emerged that he used his position to make bets on what U.S. President Donald Trump would say in speeches. The White House did not immediately comment on the settlement. A White House official said in July that Perez was no longer in his position but did not say if he had been fired or resigned. The commission found that Perez made US$107,500 on prediction markets by betting on words and phrases that would appear in Trump’s speeches between December, 2025 and February, 2026. “In his position, Perez had access to presidential speeches prior to those speeches being delivered and Perez misappropriated that information — in breach of his duty of trust and confidence,” according to a release from the commission. Perez was ordered to repay his profits in full, along with the US$65,000 civil penalty, which the commission said was a reduction because of his “exemplary cooperation.” As details emerged July 16, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it was “unfortunate” and “a disgrace.” Sign up for our Morning Update newsletter. Start your day with context and insight on the biggest stories shaping our lives SIGN UP EXPLORE NEWSLETTERS Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Comments Read or post comments Related stories Canadian securities regulators decline to oversee sports, entertainment contracts for prediction markets Supreme Court allows Trump to continue work on White House ballroom for now Prediction markets’ arrival in…