Georgia Rep. Tom Price, popular vote loser Donald Trump's pick to be secretary of Health and Human Services, has emerged as perhaps the most ethically challenged of all of Trump's nominees—which is saying a helluva lot. The very strong whiff of corruption hovering around Price has Democratic senators demanding more information from him to clarify his direct involvement in stock trades related to his actions as a lawmaker.
A letter to Price from Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), ranking Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, asks for the congressman to hand over the brokerage agreements for two Morgan Stanley accounts and for any other unstated accounts no later than noon on Monday. […]
Now, Murray and Wyden, whose committee will hold a hearing on Price’s nomination on Tuesday, are asking Price to reveal the actual agreements for his two Morgan Stanley brokerage accounts and any other accounts holding stock in Innate Immunotherapeutics or other health care stocks. The accounts the senators are asking for relevant documentation on are labeled “Morgan Stanley #1” and “Morgan Stanley #2” in Price’s financial disclosure form. Democrats have already called for a delay in Price’s hearings until an ethics investigation into his stock trading can be completed. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics asking it to conduct an investigation into Price’s actions.
Price's first hearing in front of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee failed to allay any of the concerns arising from reports of his potential insider trading and influence peddling. In fact, Price muddied the issue in that hearing, revealing that he had personally directed his broker to buy stock in Australian biotechnology firm Innate Immunotherapeutics after hearing about the company from New York Republican Rep. Chris Collins.
Democrats have a second shot at pinning Price down on his stock transactions and determining whether he has been in violation of the STOCK Act, which bans lawmakers from insider trading. He's got a second hearing in front of the Finance Committee on Tuesday.