US Lawmakers Demand Investigation into Fossil Fuel Billionaires' Insider Trading Amid Trump Ties
A US senator is pushing for a probe into potential insider trading by high-ranking Trump donors who bought millions of dollars' worth of shares in a liquefied natural gas company linked to the president's administration.
Senator Jeff Merkley, from Oregon and a senior member of key budget committees, has expressed outrage over what he describes as "pay-to-play" donations and favorable actions taken by the Trump administration. The billionaire donors, including Venture Global co-founders Robert Pender and Michael Sabel, have been linked to fossil-fuel lobbying efforts and high-stakes meetings with top officials.
Pender and Sabel purchased over a million shares worth nearly $12 million each in just days after meeting senior Trump officials in March. The transaction has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and whether they took advantage of their connections for personal gain.
Merkley believes that the timing of these trades warrants an investigation into potential insider trading, citing the close ties between the fossil-fuel industry and the administration as a major concern. "Dirty oil and gas bucks are fueling the Trump administration," he said, adding that this latest revelation paints a concerning picture of pay-to-play politics.
Sabel has attended exclusive events at Mar-a-Lago, where he reportedly requested $1 billion in campaign donations from the fossil-fuel industry in exchange for favorable legislation. His company, Venture Global, was among the top donors to Trump's inauguration and has been linked to lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill.
Critics argue that such close ties between the administration and wealthy donors can undermine trust in government institutions. "Altogether, the fossil industry and Trump team are producing expensive, dirty energy instead of cheaper, clean energy," said Merkley. The result is higher utility prices for American households and accelerated climate chaos, with 2025 on track to be one of the hottest years on record.
The White House has denied any conflicts of interest, with a spokesperson stating that President Trump has never engaged in such dealings. However, an investigation into these transactions could provide further insight into potential wrongdoing within the administration.
A US senator is pushing for a probe into potential insider trading by high-ranking Trump donors who bought millions of dollars' worth of shares in a liquefied natural gas company linked to the president's administration.
Senator Jeff Merkley, from Oregon and a senior member of key budget committees, has expressed outrage over what he describes as "pay-to-play" donations and favorable actions taken by the Trump administration. The billionaire donors, including Venture Global co-founders Robert Pender and Michael Sabel, have been linked to fossil-fuel lobbying efforts and high-stakes meetings with top officials.
Pender and Sabel purchased over a million shares worth nearly $12 million each in just days after meeting senior Trump officials in March. The transaction has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and whether they took advantage of their connections for personal gain.
Merkley believes that the timing of these trades warrants an investigation into potential insider trading, citing the close ties between the fossil-fuel industry and the administration as a major concern. "Dirty oil and gas bucks are fueling the Trump administration," he said, adding that this latest revelation paints a concerning picture of pay-to-play politics.
Sabel has attended exclusive events at Mar-a-Lago, where he reportedly requested $1 billion in campaign donations from the fossil-fuel industry in exchange for favorable legislation. His company, Venture Global, was among the top donors to Trump's inauguration and has been linked to lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill.
Critics argue that such close ties between the administration and wealthy donors can undermine trust in government institutions. "Altogether, the fossil industry and Trump team are producing expensive, dirty energy instead of cheaper, clean energy," said Merkley. The result is higher utility prices for American households and accelerated climate chaos, with 2025 on track to be one of the hottest years on record.
The White House has denied any conflicts of interest, with a spokesperson stating that President Trump has never engaged in such dealings. However, an investigation into these transactions could provide further insight into potential wrongdoing within the administration.
This latest development in US politics is indeed a worrying one. The notion that high-ranking Trump donors may have exploited their connections for personal gain through insider trading raises serious questions about the integrity of the administration. The fact that these billionaires, who stand to benefit greatly from favorable legislation, have been making millions of dollars' worth of shares in a liquefied natural gas company just days after meeting with top officials is particularly concerning 
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... I mean, come on! Billionaires getting rich off the back of the climate crisis and then donating millions to get favorable treatment? It's like they're paying to play poker with the entire country's future as a prize 
. And what really gets my goat is that these guys are not even trying to hide it – they're just out in the open, asking for more cash in exchange for favors 
. And now we're paying the price – literally. The cost of clean energy is going up because of all this shady deal-making 
. We need some real change here, not just a cover-up 
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. Merkley's right to call out this pay-to-play politics and demand an investigation - we need transparency and accountability in government! 
. Merkley is right on point here, we gotta keep a close eye on these connections between big money and our politicians. I mean, shouldn't we be working towards clean energy not perpetuating dirty fossil fuels? it's time for some accountability and real change 
. The fact that these guys can just swoop in, buy up shares of a company linked to the administration, and then reap huge profits while pushing for dirty energy is just crazy 
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It doesn't look good for transparency or accountability. And can you imagine how much money these billionaires have sunk into campaigns and lobbying efforts? 
it's like they think they can just buy influence and get away with it 
Merkley's all about keepin' it real and investigatin' these insider trades 
gotta keep the government accountable, you feel? 
. It's essential to separate personal interests from public service and ensure that our elected representatives are acting in the best interest of the nation rather than just their own pockets 
. As climate change continues to pose a significant threat to our planet, it's crucial that we prioritize clean energy sources over dirty fossil fuels 
️. The US government should be at the forefront of promoting sustainable energy solutions, not profiting from or enabling the exploitation of this resource 
. newsflash: corruption has been around for ages and it's only getting worse because of the influence money