Saturday, November 16, 2024

OP-ED: RHODE ISLAND GOP

WILL MAGAZINER CALL WHITEHOUSE UNETHICAL?

 

 

Congressional candidate Seth Magaziner aired an advertisement calling for a ban on stock trading by members of Congress.

 

A few years ago, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who serves on the Senate committee that oversees health legislation, bought shares in pharmaceutical companies while Congress was finalizing the 21st Century Cures Act, a major medical research bill. 

 

Rhode Island Republican Party chairwoman Sue Cienki released the following statement:

 

“We agree that there should be a ban on stock trading by members of Congress. It is unethical for Senators and Congressmen to use or appear to use insider information they gained from holding public office to profit from stock trading.

 

The real question is whether Magaziner will condemn Senator Whitehouse, who endorsed him just days ago, for engaging in unethical behavior when Whitehouse bought shares of pharmaceutical companies while Congress was considering major medical research legislation.

 

Calling for a ban but not calling out those who engage in the behavior you want to ban is simply a sham.

 

Lastly, if Magaziner will not call out Senator Whitehouse for being unethical, will he, at least, tell the public the exact names of the individuals who gave him $800,000 to get a start in politics back in 2014?

 

If it really was just family members, why will he not disclose the names?”