Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
- MTG's husband purchased stock in companies that support BLM and LGBTQ rights.
- Greene, a Republican from Georgia, has called BLM "terrorists."
- Congress is actively debating whether to ban lawmakers and their spouses from trading stocks.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's husband, Perry Greene, just bought up to $295,000 worth of stock in companies that have predominantly — and openly — supported social efforts that the Republican congressman vehemently opposes, such as the Black Lives Matter movement and LGBTQ+ rights.
Perry Greene on June 10 purchased four- or five figures worth of stock in Costco Wholesale Corporation, Goldman Sachs Group, Home Depot, Intel Corporation, Nestlé, Proctor & Gamble Company, United Parcel Service, and Visa Inc., according to a personal financial disclosure Marjorie Taylor Greene filed June 20 with the US House of Representatives.
Greene has called Black Lives Matter the "the strongest terrorist threat in our county."
In May, Greene also predicted that straight people would become extinct in part because of "trans terrorists" and LGBTQ-related education in schools.
"Probably, in about four or five generations, no one will be straight anymore. Everyone will be either gay or trans or non-conforming or whatever the list of 50 or 60 different options there are," Greene said in a video.
Greene's statements stand in stark contrast to statements made by the companies in which her husband has now invested.
Following the murder in 2020 of George Floyd, UPS spent millions of dollars through its foundation to fund social justice efforts.
"Black lives matter. They matter to us inside of Nestlé and they matter to us outside of Nestlé," the global food giant said in a message from its executive leadership team.
"We must focus on how much Black Lives Matter and what we can do in driving real and lasting change to end social injustice and racial inequality," Visa Chairman and CEO Al Kelly wrote in July 2020.
Similarly in May 2020, then-Intel CEO Bob Swan sent a memo to Intel employees "in response to the recent senseless acts of racism and violence in the United States," where he pledged $1 million from Intel to go toward nonprofit and community organizations addressing "social injustice and anti-racism."
He also encouraged employees to consider donating to the Black Lives Matter Foundation, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and others. The company has also shared posts on social media in celebration of Pride Month.
Home Depot has also supported LGBT rights, having lobbying in favor of the Equality Act. The company did, however simultaneously donate to legislators who voted against it."
Taken together, Perry Greene's newly-purchased stock shares are worth between $87,000 and $295,000 — federal lawmakers are only required to disclose the value of their stock trades, as well as those of their spouses and dependent children, in broad ranges.
Greene and her husband have previously invested in companies that have publicly opposed Greene's stances on social issues, including the Walt Disney Co. and Walmart. In January, Greene also disclosed that she sold up to $15,000 worth of Activision Blizzard stock on January 18 — the day news broke of plans for the video game company to be purchased by Microsoft.
Greene's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In September, Greene told Insider that she does not personally control her own investments.
"I have an independent investment advisor that has full discretionary authority on my accounts. I do not direct any trades," she said.
It has long been legal for members of Congress and their spouses to buy, sell, and hold individual stocks, including stocks in companies that have significant business before Congress or stand to be affected by congressional decisions.
But lawmakers on the left and right have in recent months introduced several bills to ban or otherwise limit their colleagues — and in some cases, spouses — from playing the stock market.
Lawmakers are actively debating the matter, and some have promised to put a consensus bill up for a vote later this year.
source https://businessinsider.com/mtg-marjorie-taylor-greene-stocks-congress-6