Former White House Teleprompter Operator Settles With CFTC Over Insider Trading on Prediction Market
A former White House teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, has been ordered by federal authorities to repay over $100,000 in profits and pay a $65,000 fine. Perez used insider knowledge of presidential speeches, obtained through his position, to make bets on…
Fort Myers Naples, FL, August 28, 2026 — A former teleprompter operator who worked in the White House has agreed to a settlement with federal regulators, requiring him to return over $100,000 in profits and pay a $65,000 fine. Gabriel Perez used his access to information regarding presidential speeches to engage in illegal betting on a prediction market, according to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
The settlement resolves allegations that Perez leveraged non-public information about upcoming presidential addresses. As a teleprompter operator, Perez had advance knowledge of the content of these speeches before they were publicly delivered. He then used this insider information to place bets on a prediction market, a platform where individuals can wager on the outcomes of future events.
Federal authorities initiated action against Perez following an investigation into his activities. The CFTC’s findings indicate that Perez profited from his trades by exploiting information that was not available to the general public or other participants on the prediction market. The specific prediction market platform was not detailed in the information provided.
As part of the settlement order, Perez is mandated to disgorge all profits derived from his alleged insider trading, totaling more than $100,000. Additionally, he must pay a civil monetary penalty of $65,000 to the CFTC. The regulatory body aims to maintain fair and orderly markets, and this action underscores its commitment to preventing fraud and manipulation.
The exact timeline of Perez’s employment at the White House and the period during which these alleged activities took place were not specified. The resolution of this case was achieved through a settlement, meaning Perez did not admit or deny the allegations but agreed to the terms set forth by the CFTC. This outcome serves as a reminder of the regulatory scrutiny applied to individuals with access to sensitive information, regardless of their specific role.
Story summarized from the original created by AP on apnews.com, see more information here.
