Democrat Rep. Gottheimer, Rep. Khanna's wife are personally invested in Russian companies: documents
Russia is facing heavy financial sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine, yet New Jersey Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer and Ritu Khanna, the wife of California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, currently are invested in the stocks of Russian companies, according to documents obtained by Business Insider.
Michigan Republican Rep. Peter Meijer and Dan Lee, the husband of Nevada Democratic Rep. Susie Lee, both sold their "Russia-related investments" within the last two years, the federal financial disclosure documents show per Business Insider.
Members of Congress are able to legally trade stocks, but they are under increasing scrutiny for doing so. Bipartisan efforts to ban some types of investments are currently underway in Congress.
The four representative's investments come as Russia is facing heavy sanctions and boycotts due to Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
"There's an obvious conflict of interest with members of Congress holding Russian stocks as the world coalesces around a program of sanctions to respond to Putin's mass murder campaign in Ukraine," Walter Shaub, Project on Government Oversight senior fellow and former Office of Government Ethics director, told Business Insider.
More than 130 civilians have been killed and over 600,000 people have left Ukraine since the conflict started last week, the United Nations reported Tuesday.
"New Hampshire, Ohio, Utah, New York, Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland and other states have enacted measures to ban the sale of Russian goods in the past week," the Center Square reported.
"It's inexcusable, and it's not like members of Congress didn't have plenty of advance warning that this attack was coming," Shaub told Business Insider. "This is yet another example of why members should not be trading stocks."
Gottheimer owns up to $30,000 of stock in Russian fossil fuels company Lukoil and up to $15,000 of stock in Russian internet company Yandex, a financial disclosure shows.
"Prior to taking office, Josh turned over management of his portfolio to a third party and only receives statements of prior transactions," Gottheimer spokesperson Chris D'Aloia told Business Insider. "All decisions related to buying and selling of securities are done so without Josh's approval."
Ritu Khanna bought up to $15,000 in Yandex stock on Jan. 21, per a financial disclosure.
"Congressman Khanna does not trade in any stocks, and he supports a ban on stock trading that applies also to spouses," Rep. Khanna's spokesperson Marie Baldassarre told Business Insider.
Meijer also reportedly owned up to $15,000 in Yandex stocks, as part of a trust from his family's store chain. He sold the stocks in early 2021.
Lee's estranged husband, casino businessman Dan Lee, sold up to $200,000 in Russian exchange-traded funds, according to Business Insider.