The legislation seeks to prevent Congressional members and their spouses from holding, buying, or selling stocks|Mark Fischer|CC BY-SA 2.0
Senate Democrats and Republican Sen. Josh Hawley voted to advance the HONEST Act, a bill banning stock trading for members of Congress and future presidents and vice presidents. The measure drew sharp criticism this week from President Donald Trump.
The bill was initially called the PELOSI Act, targeting former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi due to scrutiny over her husband’s stock trades.
The President had earlier signaled openness to the bill’s idea but reversed tone on social media, accusing Hawley of playing into Democratic hands.
He called Hawley a “second-tier” Republican for introducing the legislation preventing Congressional members and their spouses from holding, buying, or selling stocks.
If passed, it would not affect President Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Hawley claimed Trump supported the bill during a recent meeting. Meanwhile, Republican backing for the measure remains shaky.