Representative Anna Paulina Luna publicly called for a pardon of a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier charged with using classified intelligence to profit from prediction market bets, arguing that the case reflects what she described as unequal enforcement of justice compared to alleged insider trading within Congress.
In a series of posts published April 23, 2026, Luna addressed the charges against Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke, who federal prosecutors accuse of leveraging nonpublic information tied to the operation that led to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s capture. While acknowledging wrongdoing, Luna framed her response around what she characterized as broader inconsistencies in how insider trading is handled across government institutions.
“Maybe not a popular take but I am calling for this guy to be pardoned,” Luna wrote. “Unless the DOJ plans on going after all the crooks in congress currently insider trading, this is simply skewed justice. There is no ‘justice’ when guys like this get the book thrown at him yet members are illegally profiting every day.”
Her comments came shortly after news of the federal indictment, which includes charges of wire fraud, commodities fraud, and unlawful use of confidential government information. Prosecutors allege Van Dyke used classified intelligence to place a series of bets on the platform Polymarket, correctly predicting key outcomes tied to the operation and generating more than $400,000 in profits.
Luna reiterated her criticism in a second post, questioning whether similar scrutiny would be applied to lawmakers. “So is the DOJ going to arrest members of congress for insider trading? Because if not this seems awfully hypocritical. Just saying,” she wrote.
Despite defending the soldier from what she described as disproportionate punishment, Luna made clear she did not condone the conduct itself. “I don’t agree with what he did and he should be required to disgorge all the profits however, unless the DOJ plans on doing Congress next, this is not justice,” she stated.
The remarks align with Luna’s prior public criticism of stock trading by members of Congress, an issue that has drawn bipartisan attention in recent years. Her statements in this case place that broader debate alongside a high-profile prosecution involving military intelligence and financial markets, raising questions about consistency in enforcement standards.
Federal authorities have emphasized the seriousness of the charges, maintaining that classified information entrusted to military personnel must not be used for personal financial gain. The case continues to move through the legal system as scrutiny expands over both the alleged conduct and the wider implications raised by Luna’s response.