An American special operations soldier, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, who was directly involved in the Venezuelan raid that led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro, has been criminally charged after prosecutors say he used classified information and placed a $33k bet that the president would be captured, earning him a $400k payday.
But his arrest and indictment come with controversy that works in his favor.
High-profile congresswoman Rep. Anna Luna (FL.) asked President Trump to pardon Van Dyke.
Her reasoning? Hypocrisy!
She feels, and rightly so, that congressmen and women have been enriching themselves while in office for years over questionable and unethical stock trading that surpassed even the most financially competent experts.
Despite all the red flags that exist with congress members enriching themselves, no one has been thoroughly investigated, let alone prosecuted.
Take Nancy Pelosi, for example.
Nancy Pelosi and her husband reported approximately $700,000 in stocks in 1987. As of last year, their stock portfolio is worth over $133 million dollars. That is a whopping 17,000% increase and soars past the 2300% increase for the Dow Jones in the same time period!
“Key to her success was very ‘lucky’ use of stock options, often a sign of trading on inside information, something members of Congress have lots of,” the NY Post wrote.
Despite similar, less extreme examples of politicians magically turning into stock experts, the prosecution wants to go after a military hero directly involved in the capture of Maduro.
In a public statement, U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said, “Our men and women in uniform are trusted with classified information in order to accomplish their mission as safely and effectively as possible, and are prohibited from using this highly sensitive information for personal financial gain.”
Sounds very familiar.
And a little too familiar for Rep. Anna Luna.
She took to social media and is shedding light on the subject, and is not pulling any punches.
She wrote, "Maybe not a popular take but I am calling for this guy to be pardoned. Unless the DOJ plans on going after all the crooks in congress currently insider trading, this is simply skewed justice. There is no 'justice' when guys like this get the book thrown at him yet members are illegally profiting every day. I don’t agree with what he did and he should be required to disgorge all the profits however, unless the DOJ plans on doing Congress next, this is not justice."
Rep. Luna added, "[Pelosi] outperformed Warren Buffett. Is she facing 50 to 60 years in prison? No. How about the other members of Congress who, on average, 600% returns if they are individually stock trading, outperforming the S&P?”
President Trump also took to social media to comment on the situation and hinted at taking a more lenient approach to the matter.
“That’s like Pete Rose betting on his own team,” Trump said. “If he bet against his team, that would be no good, but he bet on his own team. I’ll look into it.”
Rep. Luna isn’t alone in her approach. In fact, the pressure for a pardon is increasing as time goes on.
Rep. Jimmy Patronis, who denounced the soldier’s actions but supports a pardon for the soldier, echoed a similar statement.
"If the DOJ isn’t prepared to go after every member of Congress who’s profiting off insider trading, then this feels like selective enforcement, not justice," Patronis said.
He added, “I don’t support what he did and should absolutely have to give back every dollar he made. But holding one person accountable while others get a pass undermines the ideal of equal justice under the law. POTUS should make this decision at his discretion, not the DOJ.”
Should President Trump pardon the soldier? Add your comments below.
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Writer Eddie Molina is a veteran and has over 25 years of combined LEO/military service. He owns and operates the LEO apparel and accessory company www.BuyHeroStuff.com
But his arrest and indictment come with controversy that works in his favor.
High-profile congresswoman Rep. Anna Luna (FL.) asked President Trump to pardon Van Dyke.
Her reasoning? Hypocrisy!
She feels, and rightly so, that congressmen and women have been enriching themselves while in office for years over questionable and unethical stock trading that surpassed even the most financially competent experts.
Despite all the red flags that exist with congress members enriching themselves, no one has been thoroughly investigated, let alone prosecuted.
Take Nancy Pelosi, for example.
Nancy Pelosi and her husband reported approximately $700,000 in stocks in 1987. As of last year, their stock portfolio is worth over $133 million dollars. That is a whopping 17,000% increase and soars past the 2300% increase for the Dow Jones in the same time period!
“Key to her success was very ‘lucky’ use of stock options, often a sign of trading on inside information, something members of Congress have lots of,” the NY Post wrote.
Despite similar, less extreme examples of politicians magically turning into stock experts, the prosecution wants to go after a military hero directly involved in the capture of Maduro.
In a public statement, U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said, “Our men and women in uniform are trusted with classified information in order to accomplish their mission as safely and effectively as possible, and are prohibited from using this highly sensitive information for personal financial gain.”
Sounds very familiar.
And a little too familiar for Rep. Anna Luna.
She took to social media and is shedding light on the subject, and is not pulling any punches.
She wrote, "Maybe not a popular take but I am calling for this guy to be pardoned. Unless the DOJ plans on going after all the crooks in congress currently insider trading, this is simply skewed justice. There is no 'justice' when guys like this get the book thrown at him yet members are illegally profiting every day. I don’t agree with what he did and he should be required to disgorge all the profits however, unless the DOJ plans on doing Congress next, this is not justice."
Rep. Luna added, "[Pelosi] outperformed Warren Buffett. Is she facing 50 to 60 years in prison? No. How about the other members of Congress who, on average, 600% returns if they are individually stock trading, outperforming the S&P?”
President Trump also took to social media to comment on the situation and hinted at taking a more lenient approach to the matter.
“That’s like Pete Rose betting on his own team,” Trump said. “If he bet against his team, that would be no good, but he bet on his own team. I’ll look into it.”
Rep. Luna isn’t alone in her approach. In fact, the pressure for a pardon is increasing as time goes on.
Rep. Jimmy Patronis, who denounced the soldier’s actions but supports a pardon for the soldier, echoed a similar statement.
"If the DOJ isn’t prepared to go after every member of Congress who’s profiting off insider trading, then this feels like selective enforcement, not justice," Patronis said.
He added, “I don’t support what he did and should absolutely have to give back every dollar he made. But holding one person accountable while others get a pass undermines the ideal of equal justice under the law. POTUS should make this decision at his discretion, not the DOJ.”
Should President Trump pardon the soldier? Add your comments below.
------------------------------
Writer Eddie Molina is a veteran and has over 25 years of combined LEO/military service. He owns and operates the LEO apparel and accessory company www.BuyHeroStuff.com
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