Florida Lawmaker Denies Allegation of Tipping Vance Pick and Files Complaint Over Report

U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida denied allegations that she told MAGA influencer Rogan O’Handley in summer 2024 that Donald Trump would select JD Vance as his running mate. The Independent reported that the conversation occurred during a lunch at Stovall House, a social club in Tampa, where Luna allegedly teased O’Handley for not placing a larger wager on the outcome through Polymarket.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the alleged disclosure prompted an investigation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. ” A spokesperson for Luna stated that she filed a criminal complaint with the commission alleging that someone knowingly submitted a false report to the agency.

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

The Independent contacted Luna, O’Handley, Polymarket and the commission for comment. The report on the alleged Vance tip follows a White House announcement that teleprompter operator Gabriel Perez was placed on unpaid administrative leave after accusations that he won more than $100,000 by betting on the content of President Trump’s speeches.

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

In March the White House warned staffers against using nonpublic information for political bets after three Polymarket accounts reportedly earned more than $600,000 by correctly predicting the timing of a ceasefire in the Iran war. Polymarket states that it prosecutes unusual and illegal activity on its platform.