Corruption in the halls of power has real consequences, and a former White House teleprompter operator is learning that the hard way. Gabriel Perez, who held a position of trust within the administration, was caught red-handed using his inside knowledge of President Trump's upcoming speeches to place lucrative wagers on the prediction platform Kalshi.
Between December 2025 and February 2026, Perez treated the presidency like a personal ATM, exploiting his access to secure profits from market movements triggered by the president's words.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has rightfully cracked down on this breach of duty, ordering Perez to surrender $107,539.02 in ill-gotten gains and pay an additional $65,000 civil penalty. Beyond the financial hit, Perez has been banned from trading for three years, a fitting end to a career marked by a blatant disregard for ethics.
While the White House placed Perez on unpaid leave last summer before he was ultimately ousted, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for strict oversight of federal employees. Kalshi’s legal team correctly noted that federal law and platform rules are not suggestions; they are mandates.
When individuals in sensitive government roles prioritize greed over their duty to the American people, they must face the full weight of the law.
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