Brendan Gill released the following statement to vow against stock trading if elected to Congress:

“As elected officials, our duty is clear: safeguard the public trust and serve the people we represent. Here in NJ-11, we deserve a leader who is fully focused on making life more affordable, improving our infrastructure, and standing up to the toughest challenges in Washington — including Donald Trump.

“What we cannot afford are politicians who put their own bank accounts above the people they are supposed to serve. Insider stock trading, using nonpublic information for personal gain, and playing fast and loose with ethics destroys confidence in our government and corrodes the integrity of our democracy. This isn’t a minor lapse — it’s a betrayal of the very public trust we are elected to uphold.

“Public service must be grounded in transparency, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to ethical standards. Anything less is unacceptable. That’s why I’m joining over 90 former Members of the House in calling for a strong, straightforward ban on individual stock trading by sitting legislators. This isn’t about party politics — it’s about doing what’s right. A healthy democracy depends on leaders who are fully committed to the people, not their portfolios.

“If I’m elected to Congress, I promise that I won’t trade stocks. It’s a simple commitment, but an important one. I’m also calling on candidates on both sides of the aisle to make this same pledge to their constituents. We cannot ask voters to trust us if we’re not willing to take real, meaningful steps to earn that trust. Banning congressional stock trading is one of those steps — it proves that public service is about serving the public, and nothing else.”