U.S. Senator Ashley Moody recently disclosed several stock purchases made on April 4, just days before President Trump announced significant pauses on tariffs, raising eyebrows among market watchers.
Moody’s disclosed trades include Howmet Aerospace (NYSE: HWM), purchased at $112.33 per share, which surged 41% following the investment.
She also bought JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) at $210.28, Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) at $16.16, and Ares Capital (NASDAQ: ARCC) at $19.97—all of which posted strong gains of 26%, 10%, and 8% respectively in the weeks following the transactions.
Each of these trades ranged between $15,001 and $50,000, according to filings submitted on May 13 (39 days after execution) and flagged by Finbold’s Politician Trading Radar.
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Stock trades and policy shifts
The timing of these trades executed shortly before a major federal tariff policy shift has raised ethical concerns. Given the subsequent stock performance, some observers question whether Moody had access to non-public information, although no formal allegations have been made.
While insider trading allegations require substantial proof, the timing and significant returns of Moody’s stock picks warrant closer inspection by ethics watchdogs.
The case highlights growing scrutiny over public officials whose personal financial moves align closely with major policy shifts.
