Trump Teleprompter Operator Accused Over Kalshi Bets Leaves Government: AP
Reported by Cointelegraph · AI-assisted summary by ChikoCorp AI News Desk
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Summary
Gabriel Perez, a former White House teleprompter operator, is no longer employed by the federal government after being accused of profiting from bets related to President Donald Trump’s speeches on the Kalshi prediction market platform. A White House official confirmed Perez’s departure but did not clarify whether he resigned or was fired. Perez had previously been placed on unpaid leave earlier in the month.
Perez was accused of using nonpublic information from his position to make over $100,000 in bets on Kalshi tied specifically to Trump’s speeches, according to an earlier report by ABC News. Kalshi's surveillance team apparently identified the suspicious trading activity and referred the matter to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Kalshi's platform explicitly prohibits users from trading based on information obtained through their employment.
Why it matters
This development is notable because it raises concerns about insider trading on prediction market platforms and the regulatory oversight of such activities. The role of the CFTC in investigating the referral highlights the seriousness with which authorities are treating the use of inside information in emerging markets like prediction markets. The case also underscores potential ethical and legal risks for employees with access to nonpublic government information who engage in speculative trading.