Lewis Shines Spotlight on Tina Smith’s Pandemic Stock Sell-Off as Burr Receives Increased Scrutiny

May 14, 2020

WOODBURY, Minn. — U.S. Senate candidate Jason Lewis released the following statement Wednesday afternoon calling out Senator Tina Smith for selling stocks amid the coronavirus pandemic. Financial disclosures show Senator Smith and her husband sold up to $1,000,000 in stock holdings as the stock market started to crash due to pandemic concerns. The issue became even more relevant Wednesday night when Senator Richard Burr came under increased scrutiny over stock sales made in late January and early February as the FBI seize his phone in insider trading investigation.

“Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Minnesotans have been told to sacrifice their own needs for the betterment of all. Unfortunately, Senator Tina Smith, like so many ‘leaders,’ hasn’t been following her own advice—attempting to personally profit amid the economic turmoil surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic.

As the stock market started to crash in reaction to the Coronavirus pandemic, Smith’s first thought was how to protect her own financial interests. According financial disclosures, she dumped between half a million dollars’ worth and one million dollars’ worth of personal stock holdings. And let’s not forget, shortly thereafter Senator Smith voted twice to block the much-needed coronavirus economic relief bill. 

This raises serious questions about what sensitive information Tina Smith may have received in her role as Senator which precipitated her decision to sell so many of her holdings. Voters deserve to know what Tina Smith knew, and when she knew it.

It is unbelievable that a sitting Senator would put her own financial well-being above those she is supposed to serve. Minnesotans put their lives on hold and hunkered down in order to save lives knowing their sacrifice would come with financial difficulties. The extended lockdown has cost them even more than they thought. But not Senator Smith—she was busy looking out for her own financial interests.

Tina Smith should be ashamed of herself in the way she’s mishandled the COVID crisis—from holding up relief for partisan purposes to how her role as Senator may have factored into this stock sale. Minnesotans deserve better from our elected officials.”

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