Video: Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA07) Says Trump Likening Soldier’s Polymarket Bet on Maduro Raid to Pete Rose Is “Outrageous”; “This is life and death…it is not a game.”

See below for video and highlights of Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA07) on CNN discussing this insane story :

Federal authorities arrested a special operations soldier who was involved in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for allegedly pocketing more than $400,000 by betting on his removal from office, the Justice Department announced Thursday.

Federal investigators said Gannon Ken Van Dyke bet more than $33,000 on the prediction market Polymarket just days before President Donald Trump announced Maduro’s capture.

According to Rep. Vindman:

“It’s an outrageous lapse in good order and discipline…it’s a betrayal of trust of others in uniform and the country…it is unacceptable and needs to be stamped out before American lives and military missions are put in jeopardy…I want Polymarket to preserve the records. I think there needs to be a full Congressional investigation. I think these markets right now are insufficiently regulated; you can bet on things that are frankly unacceptable, on things related to US national security, and these are perverse incentives…[the soldier] should have been focused on the mission…what he was focused on, at least in part…was his perverse personal incentive of self enrichment. And that is unacceptable and it needs to be precluded…I believe this conduct is already illegal…sufficient basis to charge something like that under the UCMJ…There could be other incidents…that need to be fully investigated…Whether it’s a couple hours or a full 24 hours, that’s an eternity in military operations; that’s plenty of time to either adjust troop dispositions or put air defense assets on guard. It could put very easily…American lives, the mission at risk…Adversaries if they’re monitoring this…can take precautionary measures…This whataboutism is ridiculous. This soldier has undermined good order and discipline…betrayed the trust in his unit…he needs to be held accuntability. The military is a self-policing profession, certain standards are expected, and if you fail to meet those standards then you’re held accountable. In this case, where the action is quite serious, I think there ought  to be at least a thorough investigation and consideration of prosecution. Pardoning is an outrageous statement. I mean, it frankly belittles the dangerous nature of these actions. Just like the statement that you read from the president, that was also outrageous, likening this to Pete Rose. Uh, Pete Rose is banned for life in baseball, but this is not a game. This is life and death, and it’s U.S. national security, it is not a game.”

Well said!