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Did Paul Pelosi acquire $5.76 million of Microsoft stock days before the Army announced a $22 billion contract with the company?

Wednesday, April 14, 2021
By Jacob Alabab-Moser
YES

In an April 9, 2021, filing, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi disclosed that her husband, Paul Pelosi, exercised options to purchase 25,000 Microsoft shares on March 19. Based on the closing market price of $230.35 that day, his holding would have been valued at about $5.76 million.

On March 31 the Army announced a $21.88 billion contract with Microsoft to buy augmented reality headsets. Microsoft stock has risen to $255.59 as of April 13.

A 2012 law prohibits members of Congress from insider training, that is, using their special access to nonpublic information to make a private profit. There is no evidence that Pelosi had advance knowledge of the Army’s order.

Members of the House are required to make regular disclosures about their and their spouses’ personal finances to increase transparency about potential conflicts of interest.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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