Rep. Luna's investment in a donor's energy firm illustrates potential limits of a stock trading ban

The Florida Republican's office has said she owns no stocks, but her investment in a private equity firm focused on oil and gas could present a conflict of interest, experts say.

WASHINGTON — At a Capitol Hill news conference last week, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., threatened to force a vote on legislation banning lawmakers from owning or trading stocks, arguing members can’t represent their constituents when they are focused on their own investments.

“Frankly, the fact that members are getting, what, plus-600% returns on their investments is wrong,” Luna said, flanked by both Democratic and Republican co-sponsors of the stock trading ban bill. “But more importantly, how could you ever be expected to represent your constituents when you’re clearly worried about your pocketbook?”

On Monday, President Donald Trump endorsed Luna’s push, posting a video on Truth Social of the congresswoman threatening to force a vote on the congressional stock ban.

But Luna’s most recent financial disclosure statement shows she has a significant investment of her own, illustrating how lawmakers could hold assets that pose potential conflicts of interest, even if the stock trading ban that she's pushed for becomes law.

Luna reported in July on a financial disclosure form that she has invested $250,001 to $500,000 in America First Natural Resources LLC, a company founded and managed by one of her political donors, Bruce N. Rosenthal, who has described it as a private equity firm focused on domestic energy exploration and production.