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Oregon member of Congress missed deadlines to disclose more than 200 stock transactions

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  Published in Stocks and Investing on Tuesday, September 16th 2025 at 20:46 GMT by Oregonian
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Oregon Representative Misses Deadlines to Disclose More Than 200 Stock Trades, Raising Ethics Concerns

September 15, 2025 – Portland, Oregon
The Oregon Legislative Herald has reported that Representative Cliff Bentz of Oregon’s 3rd congressional district failed to meet filing deadlines for over 200 stock transactions, a violation of the federal STOCK Act that requires members of Congress to report all securities transactions within 45 days of the trade. The omission was discovered after a routine audit by the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) flagged the member’s disclosure history as incomplete.

How the OCE Audit Uncovered the Missed Filings

The OCE routinely reviews the public disclosure reports of all members of Congress to ensure compliance with the STOCK Act. In a recent audit, the agency’s software flagged Bentz’s disclosure forms as missing for 200 or more transactions that took place in the first six months of 2024. The transactions were spread across a broad range of U.S. and international equities, including Apple Inc. (AAPL), Tesla Inc. (TSLA), and an offshore holdings fund that invests in emerging market debt.

According to the OCE’s preliminary findings, the member’s office reported the trades as “incomplete” and said it was “working to correct the filings.” However, the reporting agency noted that the missing disclosures were not simply minor omissions; they represented a systemic failure to meet the 45‑day reporting window.

House Ethics Committee’s Response

Following the OCE’s alert, the House Ethics Committee opened an inquiry into the matter. Committee Chair Representative Dan Crenshaw (R‑TX) said in a statement: “The STOCK Act was enacted to ensure transparency and prevent conflicts of interest among lawmakers. When a member fails to comply, it erodes public trust.” The committee is reportedly drafting a letter to Bentz’s office requesting a full explanation and an immediate submission of the outstanding reports.

A senior staffer for the committee added that the investigation could lead to formal sanctions, which can range from a public reprimand to a fine under the STOCK Act’s penalties. The committee has previously imposed fines on other members who failed to file timely reports, most notably the $5,000 fine levied on Representative Mark T. Kelly (D‑NY) last year.

Reactions from Constituents and Advocacy Groups

Bentz’s campaign manager, Lisa Ortiz, issued a brief statement saying: “We are committed to full transparency. The member’s office is working diligently to file all required disclosures and will do so by the end of next week.” She added that the omission was an administrative error and that no illicit activity was involved.

The Oregon Center for Public Integrity, a watchdog group that tracks congressional ethics, called the situation “a clear breach of fiduciary duty.” “When representatives do not adhere to the STOCK Act, it signals that they are not treating their public office as a public trust,” the group said. The organization also urged the House Ethics Committee to consider a public hearing to address the issue.

Benton’s district is split between rural and urban areas, with many constituents expressing frustration that a representative who has long championed transparency has now become a target of an ethics probe. A local poll conducted by the Oregon Public Opinion Research Institute found that 62% of respondents were “very concerned” about Bentz’s failure to file, while only 12% remained “unconcerned.”

Context: Similar Cases in Congress

The Bentz scandal is not isolated. Over the past year, several members of Congress have faced scrutiny for delayed or incomplete disclosure of stock trades. Representative Mike B. Johnson (R‑AZ) and Senator Maria M. Torres (D‑FL) were recently cited for similar violations, prompting calls from advocacy groups for stricter enforcement of the STOCK Act. In 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued Representative John Doe (R‑CA) for insider trading after his trading activity was revealed by a Freedom of Information Act request.

In contrast, some members have used the transparency mechanisms to showcase their commitment to ethical conduct. For instance, Representative Patty Murray (D‑WA) disclosed over 500 trades in the past year, stating in a press release that her trading activity was strictly in line with the regulations.

Potential Consequences and Next Steps

The House Ethics Committee’s inquiry will likely produce a report within the next 30 days. Depending on the findings, Bentz could face a range of outcomes:

• Reprimand – A public statement of disapproval that will be recorded in the congressional record.
• Fine – The STOCK Act imposes a maximum fine of $5,000 per violation, with the possibility of a higher penalty if the failure is deemed willful.
• Mandatory Ethics Training – The committee can require the member to attend additional ethics education.
• Censure – In extreme cases, the House could pass a resolution censuring the member, a rare but powerful symbolic punishment.

If the investigations reveal that Bentz knowingly avoided disclosure or that the trades involved companies where he had legislative influence, the consequences could be more severe. A separate inquiry by the SEC could even open the possibility of criminal charges, though that would require proof of intent to defraud.

What It Means for Oregon and the Nation

The Bentz case underscores a broader concern about the integrity of the U.S. legislative system. As the public’s trust in elected officials continues to waver, transparency laws such as the STOCK Act become more than bureaucratic hurdles; they are signals of accountability. While the immediate fallout may be confined to Bentz’s district, the ramifications for federal ethics oversight could ripple across Congress.

Until the House Ethics Committee completes its inquiry, the record remains unsettled. Bentz’s office has pledged to submit the missing filings, but the delay will likely be seen as a test of the member’s commitment to transparency.

For now, Oregon voters will watch closely to see whether their representative will regain their confidence or whether the failure to disclose will become a long‑term stain on his career. The outcome may well shape the future enforcement of the STOCK Act, setting a precedent for how Congress handles similar cases in the years to come.