Ex-White House Teleprompter Operator Penalized for Insider Trading via Speech-Prediction Bets

A former White House teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, agreed to pay $172,000 to settle charges that he traded on advance knowledge of presidential speeches by betting on ‘presidential mention’ prediction-market contracts. The CFTC says he used confidential speeches to profit, earning over $107,500 from December 2025 to February 2026. As part of the deal, Perez disgorges $107,539.02, pays a $65,000 civil penalty, and faces a three-year trading ban. Kalshi aided the investigation and cooperation led to a reduced penalty. The case highlights insider-trading risks as prediction markets gain popularity and regulatory scrutiny, with the CFTC asserting jurisdiction over such event contracts.