Florida Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna is vigorously denying allegations that she provided insider information about former President Donald Trump’s 2024 vice presidential selection to a conservative influencer who then used it to profit from political betting markets.
The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend that Luna told close associates during the summer of 2024 that she knew Trump’s running mate selection. According to the Journal, Luna allegedly shared this information with Rogan O’Handley, a prominent right-wing influencer known by his online persona “DC Draino,” at an exclusive Tampa social club.
The Journal reported that O’Handley subsequently placed a winning bet on Polymarket after Luna allegedly informed him that JD Vance would be selected as Trump’s running mate. The influencer had previously told associates he had conducted a social media campaign encouraging Trump to choose Luna herself for the position.
Luna dismissed the report as “false” on social media platform X and released text message exchanges between her communications director and a Wall Street Journal reporter. A spokesperson for the congresswoman told The Daily Wire that Luna is not under federal investigation and never possessed definitive knowledge of Trump’s vice presidential selection.
“The fact is: this is false,” Luna wrote on X. “There are screenshots and time stamps on X to prove it. There is now an open investigation into the false reporting of which people will have to learn, you cannot file fake claims because you’re mad at your ex-boyfriend.”
O’Handley also denied the allegations in a statement to the Journal, saying “Any suggestion that I traded on confidential information or discussed doing so is inaccurate.”
Allegations Detailed in Social Media Post
The Daily Wire reviewed a now-deleted social media post from conservative commentator Arynne Wexler that appeared to describe the same incident detailed in the Journal’s reporting. In the post, Wexler claimed she was seated at a lunch table in summer 2024 with the MAGA influencer and a female member of Congress, who allegedly boasted about providing advance information that allowed the influencer to win $10,000 from a wager.
The allegations come at a potentially awkward time for Luna, who has made banning congressional insider trading a centerpiece of her legislative agenda. In December 2025, the Florida Republican filed a discharge petition attempting to force a House vote on legislation prohibiting members of Congress from trading stocks based on privileged information.
“Across the country, from every political background, the American people agree on one thing: Members of Congress should not be enriching themselves with insider knowledge,” Luna said when announcing the petition. “This is one of the most popular, most supported issues in the entire country. Americans deserve a Congress that works for them, not for special interests or personal portfolios.”
Exceptions to Hardline Stance
Despite her strong public stance against insider trading, Luna has previously advocated for leniency in similar cases. In April, she called for a presidential pardon for a U.S. Army soldier accused of profiting more than $400,000 by betting on the capture of former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
“Maybe not a popular take but I am calling for this guy to be pardoned. Unless the DOJ plans on going after all the crooks in congress currently insider trading, this is simply skewed justice,” Luna wrote on X at the time. “There is no ‘justice’ when guys like this get the book thrown at him yet members are illegally profiting every day.”
The Daily Wire reached out to both the Department of Justice and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to determine whether any investigation into the allegations is underway. The CFTC is the federal agency that would typically oversee matters involving prediction markets and potential market manipulation.
Context on VP Selection
For his part, Vice President JD Vance has publicly stated that he did not know about his selection until Trump called him shortly before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July 2024.
“I thought I had a good chance, but I wasn’t sure,” Vance said during an appearance on The Diary Of A CEO podcast.
The Wall Street Journal report underscores growing concerns about the intersection of political betting markets and government insider information. Polymarket and similar platforms allow users to wager on political outcomes, creating potential incentives for those with access to privileged information to profit from advance knowledge of major political decisions.
The allegations against Luna highlight ongoing questions about transparency and conflicts of interest in Washington, particularly as political prediction markets gain popularity among both casual bettors and political insiders. The incident also illustrates the challenges facing lawmakers who champion ethics reforms while navigating the informal information networks that characterize political circles.
Luna, a close ally of Trump, has become a prominent voice among conservative Republicans during her time in Congress, frequently using social media to communicate directly with supporters and constituents.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/gop-congresswoman-denies-she-helped-maga-influencer-with-insider-trading