Former White House Teleprompter Operator Fined $172,000 for Insider Trading

Gabriel Perez, a former White House teleprompter operator, has agreed to pay $172,000 to settle charges with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Perez was accused of using advance knowledge of presidential speeches to place bets on prediction markets, generating over $107,500 in illicit profits between December 2025 and February 2026. Under the settlement, he will disgorge his profits, pay a $65,000 civil penalty, and accept a three-year trading ban. The CFTC noted that the penalty was reduced due to his cooperation, and the case highlights gro