Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) has called for a presidential pardon of active duty soldier Gannon Ken van Dyke following his arrest this week. Van Dyke allegedly used insider information gained during planning for Operation Absolute Resolve to place bets on the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, profiting approximately $400,000 through the online platform Polymarket.
The Department of Justice stated that van Dyke began these bets around December 26, with Maduro captured by U.S. forces on January 3. Luna argued that van Dyke should receive a pardon because lawmakers routinely engage in illegal insider trading without facing penalties, though she acknowledged his actions were wrong and called for his winnings to be disgorged. “There is no ‘justice,’ when guys like this get the book thrown at him yet members are illegally profiting every day,” she wrote on social media Thursday.
Luna emphasized that a pardon would not absolve van Dyke of wrongdoing but would address what she views as unfair treatment compared to congressional misconduct. If denied, van Dyke could face up to 60 years in prison and have all proceeds seized. The Pentagon has indicated potential opposition to the pardon, citing concerns about military operations’ secrecy being compromised by such bets. Luna’s call aligns with her previous advocacy against lawmakers using their positions for insider trading and may energize efforts for reform within Congress.
