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The Goldstein Substack - A Father-Son Publication
Dr. Goldstein is Running for Congress and his page can be found here
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On July 22, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on H.R. 7008, the Stop Insider Trading Act. The bill passed by a vote of 232-198, with overwhelming Republican support and the support of a small number of Democrats. Every member of Connecticut’s Democratic congressional delegation—including Jim Himes—voted NO.
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That vote deserves the attention of every Connecticut voter.
Before entering Congress, Jim Himes spent approximately 12 years at Goldman Sachs, ultimately serving as a vice president. He then entered Congress in 2009 and now serves as the ranking member—the highest-ranking Democrat—on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. That committee oversees the nation’s intelligence agencies and activities.
Those two parts of his résumé make his vote especially significant.
A former Goldman Sachs vice president who now holds one of the most sensitive intelligence positions in Congress voted against legislation intended to restrict members of Congress from purchasing individual stocks while serving in office.
Connecticut voters deserve to ask why.
Should members of Congress be allowed to buy and sell individual stocks while having access to confidential legislative briefings, sensitive economic information and classified intelligence that can move financial markets?
I do not believe they should.
As a physician, attorney and the Republican-endorsed candidate for Congress in Connecticut’s Fourth District, I believe public office should never provide opportunities for personal financial advantage that ordinary Americans do not possess.
Private citizens who trade securities using material nonpublic information can face SEC enforcement and, in serious cases, criminal prosecution. Members of Congress, meanwhile, routinely receive confidential information about legislation, economic policy, government contracts, sanctions, emerging technology and international events that may affect publicly traded companies.
Even when no law is broken, the appearance of a double standard damages public trust.
That double standard must end.
A Serious National-Security Concern
This is not merely an ethics issue. It is also a national-security issue—and Congressman Himes’s position as ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee makes that concern even more important.
The House Intelligence Committee oversees the nation’s intelligence agencies and activities. As its highest-ranking Democratic member, Himes occupies a leadership position involving some of the most sensitive information handled by Congress.
Committee members can receive classified briefings concerning military operations, terrorism, cybersecurity threats, foreign governments, sanctions, intelligence programs and emerging technologies. Many of those subjects can have major financial consequences for publicly traded defense contractors, cybersecurity companies, technology firms, energy businesses and other industries.
This is not an accusation that any individual member has improperly traded on classified information. It is an argument that Congress should eliminate the opportunity, conflict of interest and appearance of impropriety altogether.
The higher the office and the more sensitive the information, the stronger the ethical safeguards should be.
A lawmaker responsible for overseeing America’s intelligence agencies should understand better than almost anyone why access to confidential government information must never create even the possibility of personal financial benefit.
The American people deserve representatives whose decisions are based exclusively on the interests of the country—not the performance of an investment portfolio.
If elected, I will support strong and enforceable legislation prohibiting members of Congress and their immediate families from trading individual stocks while the member serves in office. Members of Congress should be held to the same standards as the people they represent—and, given their access and authority, perhaps an even higher standard.
Send a Message on August 11
The Republican primary is about much more than selecting a nominee.
It is our opportunity to send a message to Connecticut Democrats that Republican voters are energized, paying attention and prepared to remain fully engaged through November.
A strong turnout demonstrates that voters demand accountability, transparency and higher ethical standards in Washington. A weak turnout risks sending the opposite message—that voters are disengaged and simply do not care.
Do not let the dog days of summer keep you home.
Early voting runs August 3 through August 9. Primary Day is Tuesday, August 11.
Primaries are often decided by a relatively small number of votes. That means your voice truly matters. Your vote can help determine the nominee, strengthen the Republican ticket and build the momentum needed to compete in November.
If you believe Congress should play by the same rules as everyone else, make your voice heard.
If you believe access to classified intelligence should never create the possibility of private financial advantage, make your voice heard.
And if you believe Connecticut deserves accountable representation in Washington, make your vote count on August 11.
Thank you.
Dr. Michael Goldstein
Republican-Endorsed Candidate for U.S. Congress, Connecticut’s Fourth District
Paid for by Goldstein for Congress.
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