Allegations of misconduct have surfaced in the political arena as Paige Cognetti, a Democratic congressional candidate, launched accusations against U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan. At a press event in Luzerne County, Cognetti claimed Bresnahan had broken a vow not to trade stocks while in office.
Cognetti, who is also the mayor of Scranton, criticized the freshman Republican for engaging in stock trading activities, despite promising not to do so. Her comments were made during a gathering at a teachers’ union hall, where she pointed to a recent radio interview that suggests Bresnahan communicates with his financial advisers.
Cognetti’s Claims Against Bresnahan
New evidence emerged from an April 2025 interview where Bresnahan told WILK Radio host Bob Cordaro about meetings with his financial adviser. “We talk about, you know, what different positions are coming up,” Bresnahan stated during the interview. Politico first reported the interview, presenting it as evidence of contradiction.
Cognetti argued that these statements contradict Bresnahan’s previous assertions. During a town hall on June 10, he claimed, “I do not have any dialogues with my financial advisers,” and reiterated in July to WVIA News that he would not provide any investment advice to his advisers.
Accusations of Dishonesty
Cognetti described Bresnahan’s conduct as “sickening,” asserting that he is not transparent about his communications with his financial adviser. She said, “The congressman is spending his time and energy trading stocks, instead of focusing on the people in northeastern Pennsylvania.”
She further stated that this is the type of public corruption she aimed to combat when she joined the Scranton School Board and later ran for mayor.
Bresnahan Campaign’s Response
In light of the controversy, Chris Pack, spokesperson for Bresnahan’s campaign, dismissed Cognetti’s use of the interview, labeling it as an out-of-context narrative to support her campaign. He emphasized that Bresnahan does not direct specific trades, with his advisers managing the portfolio.
During the WILK interview, Bresnahan affirmed that he does not trade stocks based on congressional information, stating, “Absolutely, … right hand to God on my mother’s life without a question.”
Pack reiterated that Bresnahan’s conversations with his advisers are limited to general financial strategies, similar to those of many Americans.
Bresnahan’s Stock Trading History
Following a New York Times report on his stock trades, Bresnahan has faced scrutiny for his trading activities. Despite advocating for a congressional stock trading ban, he became one of the most active traders after being elected.
In an attempt to address concerns, Bresnahan signed a petition for a House vote on a bill to ban congressional stock trading. However, the petition has not gained sufficient support to force a vote.
Cognetti remains skeptical of Bresnahan’s intentions, describing his actions as self-serving. She is vying to unseat him in the 8th Congressional District, a contest expected to be intense as Democrats aim to regain the House majority.
The district includes several counties in northeastern Pennsylvania, with a population of approximately 765,000.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Wendy Wilson, a spokesperson for Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti’s campaign, is the spouse of Ben Payavis II, chief content officer and executive producer at WVIA Public Media.
