White House Ousts Teleprompter Operator Over $100,000 Trump Speech Bets
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 16
White House Ousts Teleprompter Operator Over $100,000 Trump Speech Bets
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 16
Summary
Gabriel Perez, a White House teleprompter operator since 2016, was put on unpaid leave and told he will no longer work there after allegations he bet on Trump's speech wording.
Kalshi said it detected unusual March trading in "mention markets" tied to major Trump addresses, identified the account holder as a federal employee and froze more than $90,000 before any profits were withdrawn.
The bets allegedly used inside knowledge of words Trump would say in events including the State of the Union, a category Kalshi said can move currencies, oil and stocks.
The platform referred the activity to the CFTC, Perez is reportedly cooperating, and ABC said Manhattan federal prosecutors declined to open a criminal case.