Kinzinger Bets On Biden Pardon, Now Faces Federal Probe
Adam Kinzinger bet on his own pardon and lost. Now regulators are asking questions. See what the reports say and why it matters for your family.
Trending Newsfeed Staff Writer · Oct 1, 2026 · 2 min read
The Bet and The Backfire
Adam Kinzinger placed bets on whether he would get a pardon from former President Biden. He lost money on those wagers. Now federal regulators are looking into how he made those trades. The former congressman tried to tell CNN he did not want a pardon. Yet he put his own cash on the line that one would happen. This is the kind of mixed message that makes people angry.
The account under review traded on the Kalshi platform in late 2024 and early 2025. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is looking into the transactions. Kalshi is also conducting its own review. The rules on that platform are clear. You cannot bet on events where your name is directly involved. Kinzinger admitted he placed the bets but denied having inside information.
Words Versus Actions
Kinzinger appeared on CNN in January 2025 to lecture viewers on his innocence. He warned that Trump’s allies would force opponents to spend money defending themselves. Then he turned to the camera and said he did not want a pardon. He claimed he was guilty of nothing besides embarrassing Donald Trump. But the money he wagered told a different story. He took a position that he did not expect to be true, or he expected to get paid if it was.
The ex-lawmaker stated regarding the trades that he had reviewed and comprehended the regulations. He claimed he could not work for the agency or have inside info. “I was not a congressman or candidate, and had been out of office for two years, and had no inside information,” he declared, according to RedState. Yet he still placed bets on his own name. That is the part that does not add up for regular folks.
A Pattern of Distrust
This situation feels like a larger problem in Washington. It reminds us of how political scandals often start with a small lie or a hidden motive. Now we see a similar dynamic where a public figure says one thing but acts on another.
The public deserves to know if Kinzinger broke the law. The CFTC is the agency tasked with keeping markets fair. If a former member of Congress can bet on his own legal fate, that is not fair. It is a double standard. The rules say you cannot bet on yourself.