Insider trading, the practice of selling stocks based on non-public information, is illegal for private citizens. But it isn't illegal for members of Congress http://townhall.com/tipsheet/helenwhalencohen/2011/11/15/insider_trading_is_legal_if_you_are_in_congress http://www.cnbc.com/id/45249857 http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/718959/jack_abramoff_gives_away_the_corrupt_insider%27s_game_in_%22our%22_congress_on_60_minutes/ http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/09/60minutes/main592330.shtml http://jillianbarclay.hubpages.com/hub/What-Jack-Abramoff-Forgot-To-Tell-60-Minutes-The-Grover-Norquist-And-Rick-Santorum-Connection