Trump calls Hawley a ‘second-tier Senator’ over stock trading bill

Republican Senator Josh Hawley is defending his bill to ban stock trading by federal lawmakers

including the president and vice president, as he faces sharp criticism from President Trump

The Missouri senator's bill cleared a key hurdle Wednesday, passing the Senate Homeland Security

and Governmental Affairs Committee in an 8-7 vote. Hawley was the lone Republican to side

with Democrats in advancing it. In a Truth Social post, Donald Trump called Hawley a second-tier

senator and accused him of playing into the dirty hands of Democrats. Hawley responded saying he

hopes Trump will eventually support his bill and he's open to making changes to gain his approval

He also pointed out that Donald Trump would not be forced to divest under the current version

The bill bans stock trading for executive and legislative officials immediately, but requires them to divest only at the start of their next term

Hawley originally named the bill the Pelosi Act after former Speaker Nancy Pelosi

whose family's trades have drawn Republican criticism. It's now renamed the Honest Act, and Pelosi says she will support it

In a statement, she said the American people deserve confidence that their elected leaders are serving the public interest, not their personal portfolios

Lawmakers from both parties have long faced scrutiny over stock trading while in office

During the early days of COVID, some members were found to have traded stocks after receiving closed-door briefings

Unlike the general public, they are not always held to the same insider trading rules

If the bill becomes law, it would ultimately ban elected officials, including the president, from buying stocks

and block them from selling for 90 days after the law takes effect

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