Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Democratic congressional candidate and Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti accused Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan of public corruption on Wednesday, citing resurfaced audio of a 2025 radio interview that raised questions about his involvement in stock trades while in office. Cognetti claimed Bresnahan’s comments show he discusses his stock positions with his financial advisor, which she says is ‘the exact type of public corruption’ she has fought against in her political career.

Why it matters

The stock-trading issue has dogged Bresnahan, who campaigned on and supports banning congressional stock trading, since an April 2026 New York Times report identified him as ‘one of the most active stock traders in the freshman class.’ Cognetti’s accusations could further damage Bresnahan’s reputation and credibility on this issue, which is a key focus of her campaign.

The details

In the 2025 radio interview, Bresnahan said he ‘meets with his financial advisor’ and ‘talks about, you know, what different positions are coming up.’ Cognetti seized on this, saying it shows Bresnahan is ‘actually on the record stating that he speaks with his financial adviser about his stock positions while a sitting member of Congress.’ Bresnahan’s campaign spokesman said the congressman’s comments were ‘referring to 30,000 foot investment strategy and not about stock trades.’

In April 2026, a New York Times report identified Bresnahan as ‘one of the most active stock traders in the freshman class.’In a 2025 radio interview, Bresnahan made comments about discussing his stock positions with his financial advisor.
The players

Paige Gebhardt Cognetti

Democratic congressional candidate and mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Cognetti previously worked for Goldman Sachs from 2014 to 2016 and won a 2019 special election for Scranton mayor as an independent candidate following a corruption scandal.

Rob Bresnahan

Republican U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district. Bresnahan is accused by Cognetti of public corruption involving his stock trades while in office.

Chris Pack

Spokesman for Bresnahan’s campaign.

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What they’re saying

“The fact that the local media is once again amplifying her desperate lies, first published by a liberal DC blog, perfectly illustrates why trust in local journalism continues to collapse.”

— Chris Pack, Bresnahan campaign spokesman (Politico)

“Absolutely. Right hand to God on my mother’s life, without a question. And honestly… I find out about my holdings sometimes on Twitter, like, I’m not on a day by day, minute by minute. I mean I meet with my financial advisor. We talk about, you know, what different positions are coming up.”

— Rob Bresnahan (WILK radio)

“This is the exact type of public corruption that led me to get on the Scranton School Board in 2017, that led me to run for mayor in 2019 in the face of a huge scandal in Scranton. My time in public office has always been pushing back on corruption.”

— Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, Democratic congressional candidate and mayor of Scranton (Press conference)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.