Ritchie Torres, U.S. Congressman representing New York’s 15th district since 2021, has used his social media platform to express concerns about government officials participating in prediction markets and to announce new legislative efforts addressing the issue.
On January 9, 2026, Torres first posted about a media appearance, stating “On now with @Morning_Joe.”
Later that day, Torres addressed the potential conflict of interest for government insiders involved in prediction markets. In a post dated January 9, 2026 at 12:30 UTC, he wrote: “If you’re both a government insider AND a participant in the prediction markets, you have a perverse incentive to push for policies that personally benefit YOU. That kind of prediction market profiteering among public officials should have no place in the federal government.”
By the afternoon, Torres announced the introduction of new legislation aimed at this concern. On January 9, 2026 at 17:54 UTC he stated: “Proud to introduce the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act today with the support of 30+ of my colleagues. The blurred line between predicting and profiting does not simply corrupt markets; it corrupts the government itself.”
Torres replaced José E. Serrano as representative for New York’s 15th district in Congress starting in 2021. Born in The Bronx in 1988 and currently residing there at age 35, Torres has focused part of his legislative agenda on issues related to ethics and integrity within financial systems involving public officials.
