Ex-White House Teleprompter Operator Penalized for Insider Trading in Prediction Markets

Insider Trading Settlement

Gabriel Perez, a former teleprompter operator at the White House, has agreed to pay a total of $172,000 following allegations of insider trading linked to presidential speech prediction markets. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) found that Perez profited over $107,500 by using confidential information regarding upcoming presidential remarks.

Details of the Case

The CFTC's investigation revealed that between December 2025 and February 2026, Perez engaged in trades based on undisclosed details of presidential speeches. His role provided him with early insights that he exploited for personal gain in the "presidential mention market," where payouts are determined by specific comments made by politicians.

As part of the settlement, Perez must return $107,539.02 in profits, pay a civil penalty of $65,000, and adhere to a three-year prohibition from trading in these markets. The fine was mitigated due to his cooperation during the inquiry, with the CFTC crediting the exchange operator Kalshi for its assistance in the case.

Broader Implications

This case highlights the escalating concerns surrounding insider trading in prediction markets, which are gaining popularity for allowing individuals to bet on various outcomes, including political events. Such scenarios raise alarms about fairness, especially when insiders can exploit privileged information.

Concerns about insider trading are not isolated. Recent events include a U.S. soldier charged with earning over $400,000 from trades related to a military operation and a video editor for MrBeast fired amid a separate insider trading probe involving Kalshi.