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Democratic lawmaker violates STOCK Act with Tesla, Amazon trades
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Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, has violated a federal conflicts-of-interest and insider trading law by failing to properly disclose sales of Amazon and Tesla stock.
Evans was three and a half months late in revealing his sale of between $15,001 and $50,000 in Amazon stock and between $1,001 and $15,000 in Tesla stock, an OpenSecrets review of congressional financial records indicates [[link removed]] .
Evans sold his shares on Oct. 29, a week before Election Day, but did not disclose the fact until this week.
The trades and their timing are especially notable given recent political actions by the leaders of Tesla and Amazon.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is a Republican Party megadonor whom President Donald Trump empowered to reshape the government workforce. Jeff Bezos, the executive chairman of Amazon, torpedoed an endorsement [[link removed]] of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris by The Washington Post, which Bezos owns. Bezos then attended Trump’s inauguration as an honored guest, alongside Musk. Both own aerospace and technology companies that have government contracts worth billions of dollars.
Evans’ congressional office acknowledged a request for comment Thursday from OpenSecrets but did not return several follow-up phone calls and emails or otherwise respond.
“The law that requires members of Congress to disclose financial information is extremely important because it is the only method the public has to determine whether they have a conflict of interest,” said Kendra Arnold, executive director of the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust. “For instance, if a member makes stock transactions but does not disclose them or does so late, it makes it difficult or impossible to determine whether they used nonpublic information when making their financial decisions or if their personal investments influenced official action.
Evans, who won re-election last year in an uncontested general election [[link removed]] , has criticized Musk of late.
“Elon Musk and Donald Trump have been ignoring funding laws already passed by Congress,” Evans said in a statement [[link removed]] last month.
“The Musk-Trump administration owes it to the American people to reverse the damage they’ve done to people’s lives, services, and earned benefits,” Evans posted [[link removed]] this week on the social media platform Bluesky.
Evans has also touted his work to secure [[link removed]] federal funding for electric vehicle chargers throughout his Philadelphia congressional district — chargers that ostensibly make electric cars such as Tesla more attractive to car buyers.
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Trump administration profile: Lee Zeldin
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By Indy Scholtens
The Senate confirmed former Rep. Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency on Jan. 29. Zeldin, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, picked up a handful of Democratic supporters as the Senate approved his nomination on a 56-42 vote.
Since taking office, Zeldin has implemented elements of Trump’s policy agenda by freezing [[link removed].] billions of dollars in funding, closing [[link removed]] the EPA museum, announcing [[link removed]] the rollback of dozens of regulations, and saying he might fire 65 percent [[link removed]] of EPA employees.
Zeldin, 45, started his career as a lawyer. In 2004, he became the youngest lawyer in the state of New York [[link removed]] . After serving in the U.S. Army from 2003 to 2007, including a deployment to Iraq, Zeldin worked as an attorney for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He later started his own law firm, where he worked full time until he was elected to the New York Senate in 2010. Zeldin was elected to represent the state’s 1st district in the House of Representatives in 2015, a position he held until 2023.
Zeldin was part of Trump’s defense team [[link removed]] during his first impeachment.
Follow the money
* Zeldin has received $269,608 [[link removed]] from the oil and gas industry throughout his career. He is not an outlier: Over the past decade, more than 80 percent [[link removed]] of contributions from the oil and gas industry have gone to Republicans. Among the top contributors in the 2023-24 election cycle were Koch Inc., which contributed over $47 million [[link removed]] to Republicans and conservative groups, and Crownquest Operating, which contributed $33.9 million [[link removed]] . The American Fuel & Petrochem Manufacturers organization spent over $27.6 [[link removed]] million on lobbying in 2024.
* In the 2021-22 election cycle, most of Zeldin’s contributions came from the security and investment industry, which contributed $120,641 [[link removed]] to his campaign. Among his top contributors [[link removed]] were the First in Freedom PAC, which contributed $15,000 [[link removed]] , and the Republican Jewish Coalition, from which he received $15,000 [[link removed]] through individuals and PACs.
* Across his state and federal political career, his biggest donations came from individuals and PACs affiliated with the Pro-Israel America PAC ( $144,374 [[link removed]] ), the Republican Jewish Coalition ( $106,121 [[link removed]] ) and Blackstone Group, an investment firm ( $90,753 [[link removed]] ).
* Under Zeldin, the EPA issued a new requirement [[link removed]] : Expenditures of over $50,000 must be approved by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Why It Matters [[link removed]]
Additional profiles
* [[link removed]] Howard Lutnick [[link removed]] , secretary of commerce
* Mike Waltz [[link removed]] , national security advisor
* Marco Rubio [[link removed]] , secretary of state
* Sean Duffy [[link removed]] , secretary of transportation
* Susie Wiles [[link removed]] , director national intelligence
* Tulsi Gabbard [[link removed]] , director national intelligence
* Kash Patel [[link removed]] , director of the FBI
* Kristi Noem [[link removed]] , secretary of homeland security
* Robert F. Kennedy Jr. [[link removed]] , secretary of health and human services
* Linda McMahon [[link removed]] , secretary of education
* Elise Stefanik [[link removed]] , ambassador to the United Nations
* Doug Burgum [[link removed]] , secretary of the interior
* Pete Hegseth [[link removed]] , secretary of defense
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What else we're reading
MTG Bought Treasuries Ahead of Market Crash [[link removed]] (Sludge)
Pittsburgh's Democratic mayoral candidates see sudden infusion of so-called dark money [[link removed]] (CBS News)
Lobbying hits record in New York state politics [[link removed]] (WETM)
Big Money in American Politics Started Here [[link removed]] (Foreign Policy)
OpenSecrets in the news
See our media citations from outlets around the nation this week:
Griffin Calls Tariffs ‘Huge’ Mistake Hurting Middle Class [[link removed]] (Bloomberg)
But Griffin, who the Bloomberg Bilionaires Index estimates has a $41.8 billion fortune, is also a Republican mega-donor. He’s given at least $100 million to pro-Republican political action committees in the last presidential cycle, data from OpenSecrets show, although none of that money went to support Trump’s campaign.
Ossoff raises record-breaking $11M for Senate reelect [[link removed]] (Politico)
The early fundraising haul is a show of force that could serve to keep some potential GOP challengers on the sideline, though the $11 million is certain to be only a drop in the bucket of the expected overall spending. Georgia’s 2022 Senate race won by Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock saw more than $515 million spent by campaigns and outside groups, according to OpenSecrets.
Capitol Hill Wants $15 Billion for Weapons Pentagon Didn’t Seek: Report [[link removed]] (Military.com)
After leaving as state attorney general in 2019, Bondi joined Ballard Partners, a Tallahassee, Florida-based lobbying firm that is described as "specializing in all aspects of governmental and public affairs." Ballard had 174 clients and generated $19.3 million in revenue in 2024, according to OpenSecrets, which tracks money in U.S. politics.
Opinion: Governor should sign lobbying transparency bill [[link removed]] (Albuquerque Journal)
Opponents of the measure say the bill would create bureaucratic red tape and steer experts away from participation. But the disclosure process could be streamlined with a simple online portal, and there’s plenty of time to work out any glitches before the new rules begin in 2027. And the critics’ argument also misses a crucial point: The status quo is a problem. OpenSecrets.org, in a 2022 report, compared lobbying disclosure trends across different states and ranked New Mexico near bottom.
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The OpenSecrets merch store is here!
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We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the OpenSecrets Merch Store [[link removed]] ! Now, you can support our mission while looking good doing it. Every purchase helps us provide comprehensive and reliable data, analysis and tools for policymakers, storytellers and citizens.
Our collection — initially featuring a hoodie, crewneck, t-shirt and hat — is designed to spread awareness and make a difference. Whether you're treating yourself or finding the perfect gift, every item you buy helps fuel our cause. And every item in our store was manufactured by a certified ethical and “sweat-free” company.
Join us in wearing your support — transparency has never been more comfortable!
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Join us at the American Democracy Summit
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We’re excited to announce our participation in the 2025 American Democracy Summit [[link removed]] — one of the premier gatherings of pro-democracy leaders and changemakers in the country. This year’s theme, "We The Future," is about coming together to build a stronger, more accountable government that truly represents all Americans — a theme that aligns perfectly with the OpenSecrets mission.
The American Democracy Summit will take place near Phoenix, Arizona, May 14-16, 2025.
Learn all about the summit’s innovative programming and world-class speakers here [[link removed]] . And use code OPENSECRETS to get 10% off your ticket.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Register Now [[link removed]]
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