US senator calls for insider trading inquiry over Trump donors buying $12m worth of shares

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Guardian

Wed 10 Dec 2025 07.00 EST
Last modified on Wed 10 Dec 2025 15.18 EST


A senior Democratic senator is calling for an investigation into potential insider trading by fossil-fuel billionaires close to the Trump administration, after a Guardian investigation raised questions about an unusual share buying spree.

Robert Pender and Michael Sabel, the founders and co-chairs of Venture Global, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) company headquartered in Virginia, bought more than a million shares worth almost $12m each, just days after meeting with senior Trump officials in March. The meeting included Chris Wright, the energy secretary, who days later granted the company an export license essential for its expansion plans in Europe, the Guardian reported last week.

“Dirty oil and gas bucks are fueling the Trump Administration, which should outrage all of us. This latest reporting portrays a pattern of pay-to-play donations and favorable actions by the administration,” said Jeff Merkley, senator for Oregon and senior member of the Senate appropriations and budget committees. “The timing of the stock trades certainly merits investigation for potential conflicts of interest and insider trading.”

The Guardian reported the unusual share-buying spree by the billionaire Republican donors, who took the company public three days after Trump’s inauguration in January.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/10/trump-donors-insider-trading-investigation-senate

[Old Crank]

1. Total coincidence

I'm sure.

These guys have been thieving bastards all their lives.

[Sedona]

2. Shares in whar?

It is not clear in the article what shares were bought. Can someone enlighten me?

[BumRushDaShow]

3. It's in the 2nd paragraph

Robert Pender and Michael Sabel, the founders and co-chairs of Venture Global, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) company headquartered in Virginia, bought more than a million shares worth almost $12m each, just days after meeting with senior Trump officials in March. The meeting included Chris Wright, the energy secretary, who days later granted the company an export license essential for its expansion plans in Europe, the Guardian reported last week.

Pender and Sabel were apparently 45 "donors" running a LNG company and after meeting with 45's energy secretary, bought over a million shares of their own company's stock, JUST BEFORE DOE approved their export license (suggesting that they "bought low" and the value would now increase after that DOE approval).

Here is Venture Global's website (they are apparently set up along the LA coast) - https://ventureglobal.com/

Here is a link to their "leadership" page - https://ventureglobal.com/about-us/leadership/

World-Class Management Team

Venture Global has assembled a best-in-class management team committed to delivering safe, reliable, and low-cost LNG exports. From senior management to engineering, regulatory, legal, finance and environmental, Venture Global has market-leading expertise in every aspect of the business.

Michael Sabel
CEO, Executive Co-Chairman and Founder

Robert Pender
Executive Co-Chairman and Founder

(snip)

[FakeNoose]

8. It would be interesting to find out if Chump suddenly acquired a few shares in the same company

Like maybe he received a little "gift" or maybe something was donated anonymously?

[BumRushDaShow]

11. Well those 2 guys were already big "donors"

So 45 "did them a 'solid'" and approved their export license.

[John1956PA]

5. I think they bought market shares of the company they started, Venture Global, Inc.

[mdbl]

4. Dump has been manipulating the market for 12 months now

Insider trading is the norm now.

[popsdenver]

9. To a certain extent

it has been going on for a long time, with House and Senate members leading the pack of inside trading.....

[JustAnotherGen]

6. THIS is what Senator

Andy Kim should be focused on. Not a made-up problem in Trenton.

[chouchou]

7. Probably just a strange once-in-a-lifetime coincidence.

..sorta' of like when that ball of light in the sky disappears in the evening after about 5 to about 9...PM

[popsdenver]

10. LOL

good one...........I almost sprayed my keyboard......you should give a warning.......LOL

[Javaman]

12. the new market tracker: the orange assholes meeting schedule. LOL nt

[highplainsdem]

13. New Guardian story on Wyden and Van Hollen also calling for an investigation:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/13/trump-fossil-fuels-allies-investigation