1. United States
  2. N.C.
  3. Letter

An Open Letter

To: Sen. Tillis, Rep. Harris, Sen. Budd

From: A verified voter in Waxhaw, NC

August 28

I urge you to launch a Senate investigation into serious conflicts of interest involving Donald Trump Jr., the prediction market industry, and the Trump administration's abuse of federal power to protect those financial interests. The facts are stark. In January 2025, Kalshi hired Trump Jr. as an adviser, compensating him with over $300,000 in company shares that have multiplied in value. He also joined Polymarket's advisory board and bought a stake through his investment firm. Then, in March 2026, Trump Jr. personally pitched Republican state attorneys general at a private retreat in New Orleans, urging them to drop litigation against prediction markets. He framed state regulators as corrupt while defending the industry as federally overseen. Simultaneously, the Trump administration weaponized the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to suppress state authority. The CFTC, led by Trump appointee Michael Selig, has sued nine states with Democratic governors to block enforcement actions against prediction markets. The agency invoked emergency powers not used since 1980 to instruct prediction markets to ignore court orders from state judges. One federal judge called this "unprecedented and frankly outrageous." The double standard is damning. Republican-led states that challenged prediction markets received only weak friend-of-the-court briefs, not aggressive lawsuits. Meanwhile, the White House directly lobbied state legislators. In North Carolina, the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs shaped budget language allowing prediction markets to operate with only a 6 percent tax versus 23 percent for traditional sports betting. Kalshi lobbyists worked directly with Republican leadership to secure favorable terms. States are losing an estimated $2 billion annually in tax revenue. Consumers lose basic protections: prediction markets serve anyone 18 and over, while traditional sports betting requires age 21+. Functionally, 75 percent of Kalshi's activity is sports gambling, yet it operates without state licensing or oversight. This is not policy disagreement. This is the Trump administration using federal agencies to override state authority and democratic processes in order to protect Trump family financial interests. It mirrors the pattern you have already seen with the Saudi nuclear deal and UAE crypto investments. Congress must investigate whether federal officials violated their oaths by advancing Trump family interests over the Constitution and the rule of law.

Share on BlueskyShare on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare on WhatsAppShare on TumblrEmail with GmailEmail

Write to Thom Tillis or any of your elected officials

Send your own letter

Or text write to 50409

Resistbot is a chatbot that delivers your texts to your elected officials by email, fax, or postal mail. Tap above to give it a try or learn more here!