Democrat shaping AI policy bought chip stocks despite backing congressional trading ban

Representative Josh Gottheimer has disclosed purchases of several AI-related stocks, despite backing legislation to restrict lawmakers and their families from trading individual shares. The trades are drawing attention as he helps shape Democratic AI policy and could gain influence over industry oversight when Democrats take control of Congress in January.

Filings show purchases of Benchmark Electronics and Applied Materials in October, following three earlier buys of Advanced Micro Devices; together, the five trades were valued at between $5,005 and $75,000. Gottheimer’s spokesman says he gave a third party full discretion over his investments and is awaiting approval for a blind trust. His household reported $15.1 million to $59 million in assets, and the stocks fell sharply during a recent AI-market selloff, though Benchmark later partly recovered.