Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Read more

U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida allegedly tipped off a MAGA influencer in 2024 that Donald Trump would choose JD Vance as his running mate, teeing up a winning bet on Polymarket, the latest in a string of allegations of insider political betting sweeping Washington, D.C.

Luna allegedly described knowing Trump would choose Vance during a summer 2024 lunch at Stovall House, a social club in Tampa, and said she had tipped off Rogan O’Handley, known online as DC Draino, teasing him for not putting more money behind the bet, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The alleged tip inspired an investigation from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, according to the paper.

Both Luna and O’Handley strongly denied the allegations of being involved in an insider trade.

Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, center, allegedly tipped off an influencer that Donald Trump would choose JD Vance as his vice president, allowing the influencer to place a winning bet on Polymarket. Luna and the influencer deny the allegations (Reuters)

“l am honored the WSJ thinks I am telepathic but unfortunately I am not,” the Republican congresswoman told the paper, vowing to “continue to champion the fight against insider trading.”

“Rep. Luna had no access to advance information about who Trump would pick as VP,” her communications director, David Leatherwood, told The Independent in a statement.

He claimed that “a bitter ex-girlfriend from one of Rep. Luna’s former associates” had been making false and defamatory claims about the lawmaker, adding that Rep. Luna “has filed a complaint with the CTFC which has now opened a criminal investigation” about those claims.

“Any suggestion that I traded on confidential information or discussed doing so is inaccurate,” O’Handley told the Journal. He added that he was unaware of any federal investigation.

The Independent has contacted O’Handley and the commission for comment.

“Polymarket surveils and monitors for insider trading and other illegal activity, consistent with other markets,” a Polymarket spokesperson told The Independent in a statement. “The transparency of the blockchain provides the public with a real-time view of all trading activity, which allows us to efficiently identify and trace potential wrongdoers, as well as allowing the general public to flag suspicious trading activity. Although we do not discuss pending investigations or specific matters, our internal process has led to nearly 100 wallet referrals to law enforcement to date including the referrals that resulted in the only arrests and first and second prediction markets insider trading cases charged in the United States.”

News of the alleged Vance tip follows the White House’s announcement that one of President Donald Trump’s teleprompter operators was put on unpaid administrative leave after being accused of winning more than $100,000 from betting on the content of the president’s speeches.

Gabriel Perez is currently complying with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Thursday.

The White House has reportedly warned staffers against using inside info to make political bets, after a series of unknown traders made hundreds of thousands of dollars guessing the timing of a ceasefire in the Iran war (Getty Images)

Leavitt added that the president found the situation “deeply unfortunate and frankly a disgrace.”’

In March, the White House reportedly warned staffers against using nonpublic information to make political bets, after a trio of Polymarket accounts made more than $600,000 accurately predicting the timing of a ceasefire in the Iran war.

Polymarket says it vigorously prosecutes any unusual and illegal activity on its platform, where betters can open accounts anonymously.

Critics of online prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi have long warned such forums could inspire corruption.

The president’s son Donald Trump Jr. advises both Polymarket and Kalshi. His venture capital firm is also an investor in Polymarket. He is not accused of wrongdoing regard the above alleged trades.