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Tom Price nomination: Trump pick accused of insider trading | Tom Price nomination: Trump pick accused of insider trading |
(about 2 hours later) | |
President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the overhaul of the US healthcare system has been accused of using his political position for financial gain. | President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the overhaul of the US healthcare system has been accused of using his political position for financial gain. |
Georgia Congressman Tom Price purchased stock from a medical company days before introducing a bill that would have helped the company, CNN reports. | Georgia Congressman Tom Price purchased stock from a medical company days before introducing a bill that would have helped the company, CNN reports. |
Democrats have called for an inquiry but the Trump transition team have called the accusation a "smear". | Democrats have called for an inquiry but the Trump transition team have called the accusation a "smear". |
And an aide to Dr Price said he was not personally behind the stock purchase. | And an aide to Dr Price said he was not personally behind the stock purchase. |
On Wednesday the Senate will hold a confirmation hearing for him in his new role. | On Wednesday the Senate will hold a confirmation hearing for him in his new role. |
Ethics concerns swirl around Trump team | Ethics concerns swirl around Trump team |
The people around Donald Trump | The people around Donald Trump |
If appointed, Dr Price, who worked as an orthopaedic surgeon for nearly 20 years, will lead the Department of Health and Human Services and will play a key role in the Republican effort to overturn President Barack Obama's signature healthcare legislation. | If appointed, Dr Price, who worked as an orthopaedic surgeon for nearly 20 years, will lead the Department of Health and Human Services and will play a key role in the Republican effort to overturn President Barack Obama's signature healthcare legislation. |
According to congressional records cited by CNN, Dr Price purchased up to $15,000 (£12,000) worth of stock in Zimmer Biomet in March 2016. | According to congressional records cited by CNN, Dr Price purchased up to $15,000 (£12,000) worth of stock in Zimmer Biomet in March 2016. |
Less than a week later he introduced legislation that would have delayed the creation of a new regulation that would have affected the medical device manufacturer. | Less than a week later he introduced legislation that would have delayed the creation of a new regulation that would have affected the medical device manufacturer. |
Two days after offering the bill, the medical company's political action committee donated $1,000 (£800) to the congressman's re-election campaign fund, campaign records show. | Two days after offering the bill, the medical company's political action committee donated $1,000 (£800) to the congressman's re-election campaign fund, campaign records show. |
Senator Chuck Schumer, who leads the Democratic minority in the Senate, called for the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate whether Dr Price had violated the 2012 Stock Act, a law designed to combat insider trading by US congressman. | Senator Chuck Schumer, who leads the Democratic minority in the Senate, called for the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate whether Dr Price had violated the 2012 Stock Act, a law designed to combat insider trading by US congressman. |
"The president-elect claims he wants to drain the swamp, but Congressman Price has spent his career filling it up," Senator Schumer said in a statement. | "The president-elect claims he wants to drain the swamp, but Congressman Price has spent his career filling it up," Senator Schumer said in a statement. |
He called it "a clear and troubling pattern of Congressman Price trading stock and using his office to benefit the companies in which he is investing". | He called it "a clear and troubling pattern of Congressman Price trading stock and using his office to benefit the companies in which he is investing". |
Mr Schumer wants a temporary halt in the nomination process as the proposed investigation is conducted. | Mr Schumer wants a temporary halt in the nomination process as the proposed investigation is conducted. |
The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Dr Price had traded roughly $300,000 (£245,000) in shares over the past four years in health companies while at the same time working on legislation that would affect them. | |
But Trump transition spokesman Phil Blando hit back. He said: "Senate Democrats and their liberal media allies cannot abide by the notion that Dr. Tom Price is uniquely qualified... and will stop at nothing to smear his reputation." | But Trump transition spokesman Phil Blando hit back. He said: "Senate Democrats and their liberal media allies cannot abide by the notion that Dr. Tom Price is uniquely qualified... and will stop at nothing to smear his reputation." |
Dr Price did not make the trades himself, he said, they were done by an independent broker without his prior knowledge. | Dr Price did not make the trades himself, he said, they were done by an independent broker without his prior knowledge. |
Eight of Mr Trump's cabinet picks will face confirmation hearings in the senate this week. | Eight of Mr Trump's cabinet picks will face confirmation hearings in the senate this week. |
Mr Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president on Friday, 20 January. | Mr Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president on Friday, 20 January. |