CFTC Orders Ex-White House Teleprompter Operator to Repay Kalshi Profits
United States
Carlos Barria/Reuters
Source Analysis
What Happened
What Happened
Where Sources Agree
- arrows_inputSettlement and Financial Penalties: Reports broadly predict the imposition of a three-year trading ban and $172,539 in total financial penalties as the finalized settlement for former White House teleprompter operator Gabriel Perez, according to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
- arrows_inputInsider Trading Sanctions Confirmed: Sources uniformly report that former White House teleprompter operator Gabriel Perez was ordered to pay $172,539 in disgorgement and civil penalties for insider trading; Perez misused advance access to presidential speeches to bet on 'mention market' contracts on the platform Kalshi between December 2025 and February 2026, according to CFTC enforcement findings.
- arrows_inputInsider Trading Settlement: Multiple outlets emphasize that former White House teleprompter operator Gabriel Perez used nonpublic information from presidential speeches to conduct insider trading, with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ordering him to surrender $107,539 in profits and pay a $65,000 civil penalty.
Where Sources Disagree
- arrows_outputEthics Warning Letter Timing: Reports differ on the timing of the White House ethics warning letter regarding prediction markets; some sources cite a March issuance, while others report it occurred in July.
- arrows_outputTrading Activity Granularity: Reports vary in their focus on the extent of Perez's trading: some sources highlight that he executed 43 contracts with 39 profitable trades, while others emphasize the breadth of his activity, noting he placed bets on more than a dozen of the president's speeches.
Timeline
August 28, 2026
Penalties, cooperation noted and reforms: The agency and Kalshi emphasized enforcement: Perez received a reduced penalty for "exemplary cooperation," was banned from trading for three years, Kalshi tightened rules (including employment disclosure) and the White House did not immediately comment on the settlement.
August 28, 2026
CFTC announces settlement: On August 28, 2026, the CFTC announced a settlement requiring Perez to forfeit $107,539.02 in trading profits and pay a $65,000 civil penalty (about $172,539 total), and imposed a three‑year ban from prediction markets and cease‑and‑desist obligations.
July 16, 2026
Placed on leave, White House responds: As details emerged in mid‑July, Perez was placed on unpaid administrative leave (and later suspended), and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the conduct "deeply unfortunate and frankly a disgrace," while the White House Management Office warned aides about using nonpublic information on prediction markets.
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Source Analysis
Timeline
August 28, 2026
Penalties, cooperation noted and reforms: The agency and Kalshi emphasized enforcement: Perez received a reduced penalty for "exemplary cooperation," was banned from trading for three years, Kalshi tightened rules (including employment disclosure) and the White House did not immediately comment on the settlement.
August 28, 2026
CFTC announces settlement: On August 28, 2026, the CFTC announced a settlement requiring Perez to forfeit $107,539.02 in trading profits and pay a $65,000 civil penalty (about $172,539 total), and imposed a three‑year ban from prediction markets and cease‑and‑desist obligations.
July 16, 2026
Placed on leave, White House responds: As details emerged in mid‑July, Perez was placed on unpaid administrative leave (and later suspended), and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the conduct "deeply unfortunate and frankly a disgrace," while the White House Management Office warned aides about using nonpublic information on prediction markets.
