Senator Calls for Inquiry into Insider Trading by Venture Global Donors Tied to Trump Administration
US Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) has called for an inquiry into potential insider trading by donors to Venture Global following a report by The Guardian on significant stock purchases. Venture Global LNG founders Robert Pender and Michael Sabel bought more than 1 million shares valued at about $12 million shortly after meeting with senior officials from the Trump administration in March 2025. The meeting reportedly included Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who granted Venture Global an export license crucial to its expansion into European markets just days later.
Venture Global has stated that these stock purchases complied with SEC regulations and all laws concerning government interactions. The Guardian also noted that Venture Global donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration, with the donors being among the top contributors. Furthermore, Sabel and Pender attended a 2024 event at Mar-a-Lago where former President Trump allegedly sought $1 billion from fossil-fuel donors in exchange for favorable legislation.
Individuals linked to Venture Global spent approximately $860,000 lobbying Capitol Hill in 2024 and about $810,000 by mid-2025. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the president has never engaged in conflicts of interest. However, the article highlights concerns over potential conflicts of interest and insider trading amid patterns suggesting pay-to-play practices within the administration.
These developments occur against the backdrop of 2025 projected to be one of the hottest years on record, with ongoing fossil-fuel policy rollbacks and withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement shaping the political and environmental context.
