In wake of searing criticism from President Donald Trump, Sen. Josh Hawley defended his legislation that would ban stock trading among lawmakers, the president and vice president.
In a Truth Social post Wednesday afternoon, Trump called the Missouri Republican a “second-tier Senator” and criticized his bill as a win for the Democrats and “so bad for our Country.”
Hawley’s bill was advancedby the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Wednesday morning in a 8-7 vote, with Hawley the lone Republican voting with Democrats.
“Listen, I want the President to sign the bill, so I’m happy to do whatever it would take to get him to say, ‘Yes, this is good,’” Hawley told reporters following his excoriation by Trump on social media. “I want results.”
Hawley, who reiterated his “love” for the president, emphasized that Trump is not covered by the bill. Indeed, while the stock trading ban would go into effect for the executive and legislative branch elected officials immediately, Trump would not be required to divest his holdings for the remainder of his term.
He also said he was open to making changes to get Trump on board with the measure so that it could be signed into law.
“He’s not covered by the PELOSI Act, but Nancy Pelosi is,” Hawley said. The name of the bil was previously the Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act, named for the former Speaker Nancy Pelosi who has been accused of insider trading.
The bill was renamed during the Homeland Security markup to the HONEST Act.
