A Florida congresswoman is stepping into a controversial federal case, arguing that a decorated service member is being treated unfairly compared to lawmakers in Washington.
According to Fox News, Anna Paulina Luna is calling for a pardon for Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a U.S. Special Forces soldier accused of placing bets tied to a mission he helped plan.
Van Dyke was involved in an operation targeting former Venezuelan leader NicolƔs Maduro.
Authorities allege that before the mission, he used inside knowledge to wager on a prediction market that Maduro would be removed from power. He ultimately made more than $400,000.
The charges against him include wire fraud, unlawful monetary transactions, and violations of federal commodities law.
Prosecutors say the bets were placed over several weeks, with the final wager made just hours before the operation began.
Luna argued the potential consequences are excessive and pointed to what she described as unequal standards in Washington.
āThis man is facing decades in prison,ā Luna said. āMeanwhile, every single day on Capitol Hill, there are many members of Congress on both sides that are currently engaging in insider trading.ā
She made the remarks during an appearance on āThe Ingraham Angle,ā where she also said her efforts to pass legislation banning stock trading by members of Congress had been blocked.
The Florida Republican emphasized that while she does not support Van Dykeās actions, she believes the punishment does not reflect ātrue justice.ā
āI donāt agree with what he did. However, I donāt think that this is true justice,ā she added.
Luna also drew a comparison to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, questioning whether lawmakers face the same scrutiny.
āIs it fair for him to be facing decades while Nancy Pelosi walks free? Itās not,ā Luna said.
Pelosi has previously denied allegations of insider trading and has said she supports banning stock trading by members of Congress, adding that any wrongdoing should be prosecuted.
President Donald Trump also weighed in on the situation, likening it to baseball legend Pete Rose, who was banned from the sport for gambling.
āThatās a little like Pete Rose,ā Trump said. āPete Rose, they kept him out of the Hall of Fame for betting on his own team. Now, if he bet against his team, that would be no good, but he bet on his own team. Iāll look into it.ā
As the case moves forward, Lunaās call for a pardon adds a political dimension to a legal battle that could carry significant consequences for the soldier at the center of it.