News · Press Release

“I Didn’t Send You There to Trade”: Bresnahan Faces Heat From Voter During Telephone Town Hall for Stock Trading

WHYY: “One of his constituents — who said she voted for him — challenged Bresnahan on the issue during a telephone town hall”

Congressman Rob Bresnahan continues to face intense blowback for his prolific stock trading habit – this time from his own constituent and voter. 

New reporting this morning from WHYY reveals that Bresnahan was confronted during a recent telephone town hall, after reporting revealed that he has been a prolific stock trader despite campaigning on a pledge to ban congressional trading.

From WHYY: “‘You’re making all these trades,’ said the woman, who was only identified as ‘Ellen.’ ‘I thought you were supposed to stop trading. Is there any way you can kind of just explain what’s going on there? I did vote for you […] but I didn’t send you there to trade.’”

Read the latest reporting for yourself:
WHYY: U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, of Pennsylvania, facing criticism over stock trades he may have profited from during tariff upheaval
By Carmen Russell-Sluchansky
June 17, 2025 

  • As markets convulsed in early April following President Donald Trump’s sudden announcement of sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs, members of Congress and their families executed hundreds of stock trades — drawing fresh scrutiny to lawmakers’ access to sensitive economic information.
  • Among the most active was freshman U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, a Republican who represents Scranton and has publicly supported banning congressional stock trading.
  • According to a Wall Street Journal analysis of financial disclosures, Bresnahan reported dozens of trades between April 2 and April 8, a week that saw the S&P 500 tumble and recover amid intense tariff-driven volatility.
  • A local news outlet in Bresnahan’s district criticized the congressman for his trading, and one of his constituents — who said she voted for him — challenged Bresnahan on the issue during a telephone town hall.
  • “You’re making all these trades,” said the woman, who was only identified as “Ellen.” “I thought you were supposed to stop trading. Is there any way you can kind of just explain what’s going on there? I did vote for you. I’m really appreciative of you doing this for us and helping us … but I didn’t send you there to trade.”
  • According to investment research firm Quiver Quantitative, around $6.56 million in stock value has been traded in Bresnahan’s name this calendar year so far over a total of 579 total trades.
  • The stock market saw extreme highs and lows during President Trump’s back-and-forth decisions on tariffs, which sent Wall Street and global markets into chaos, impacting retirement funds and other investments. However, some of those close to the president appear to have made money during the market tumult.
  • Bresnahan has said he supports tighter restrictions on congressional investment activity and introduced legislation to require members to divest from individual stocks or place them in blind trusts.
  • However, he filed that bill a month after he was criticized for such trades.
  • Bresnahan’s trades ranked second-highest for the week following “Liberation Day” […]

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