Insider: A Republican congressman who says Disney is sexualizing children and ‘kowtowing’ to Chinese Communists is also a Disney stockholder

On April 7, Rep. Chris Jacobs of New York joined 16 of his Republican colleagues in declaring the Walt Disney Company is “purposefully influencing small children with its political and sexual agenda” while simultaneously capitulating to Chinese Communists who are “actively engaged in human rights abuses.”

The lawmakers likewise threatened to withhold support for extending Disney copyrights related to Mickey Mouse, the company’s most iconic character.

What Jacobs didn’t say: He personally invests in Disney stock.

Federal records Jacobs filed with the US House on Thursday confirm the congressman sold between $1,001 and $15,000 worth of his Disney stock on April 11. Jacobs described the transaction as a “partial sale,” indicating he still owns some of his Disney investment, which separate federal financial disclosures showing they were worth between $15,001 and $50,000 as of December 31, 2020. …

“Even if Members of Congress aren’t fully aware of their own stock portfolios, just the perception that they’re taking actions to line their own pockets can be really damaging,” said Aaron Scherb, senior director of legislative affairs for nonpartisan government watchdog organization Common Cause. “When Members of Congress are allowed to take votes and make other official actions that influence companies in which elected officials own stock, it looks and smells bad.”