Ex-White House Teleprompter Operator Sanctioned for Speech-Based Insider Trading

Former White House teleprompter operator Gabriel Perez settled with the CFTC for $172,000 after misappropriating confidential advance access to presidential speeches to trade on 'presidential mention' contracts in prediction markets, earning more than $107,500 between December 2025 and February 2026. The settlement requires disgorgement of $107,539.02, a $65,000 civil penalty, and a three-year trading ban; Kalshi aided the investigation. The case underscores insider-trading risks as prediction markets grow and affirms CFTC oversight over these contracts.