An Alabama senator has been forced to donate her husband's stock profits after the couple missed crucial federal deadlines to report multiple financial transactions.
Delayed Disclosures and Ethical Breach
Republican Senator Katie Britt, aged 43, filed a periodic transaction report with the Senate Ethics Committee on Monday, revealing significant delays in financial disclosures. The report showed that 22 stock transactions from the retirement account belonging to her husband, former NFL player Wesley Britt, were overdue for reporting.
The total value of these unreported transactions fell between $22,000 and $330,000, according to Senate reporting guidelines that only require disclosure of dollar ranges rather than exact amounts.
Substantial Reporting Delays
At least 16 of these transactions were more than half a year past the mandatory 45-day federal deadline, with the remaining six being several weeks overdue. These findings were initially reported by NOTUS, highlighting the extent of the reporting failure.
Among the transactions was an April 14 purchase of Chase stock valued between $1,000 and $15,000, made in an account owned by her husband. This particular holding has gained significant attention given Senator Britt's position on the Senate Banking Committee.
Committee Position and Stock Performance
Britt serves on the influential Senate Banking Committee, which oversees financial institutions and markets. The Chase stock purchased in her husband's account has reportedly increased in value by nearly 30 percent since the April purchase, according to financial reports from AL.com.
The Senate Ethics Committee mandates that periodic transaction reports must be filed within 45 days whenever at least $1,000 worth of stocks or other securities are purchased, sold, or exchanged.
Office Response and Remedial Actions
Britt's office told AL.com that the senator had 'no knowledge of that stock holding' and confirmed the stock is no longer in her husband's account. 'Upon learning of it, she requested the stock be unloaded from the account to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest,' her office stated.
'At this time, Mr. Britt no longer owns that stock, and all proceeds from the transaction are being donated to charity,' the statement continued.
Broker-Managed Account Explanation
A spokesperson for Senator Britt also informed the Daily Mail that the trades occurred without Wesley Britt's direct knowledge or consent. 'These individual equity trades were in Mr. Britt’s broker-managed retirement account and made without his knowledge or consent,' the spokesperson explained.
'The disclosure was filed as soon as Mr. Britt became aware of the trades this month. Additional guardrails have been implemented to prevent this from happening moving forward.'
Political Profile and Background
Katie Britt has been regarded as a rising star within the Republican Party since taking office in 2022 as the youngest woman ever elected to the United States Senate. Her background includes being a junior Miss America runner-up and a former sorority member at the University of Alabama, where she met her husband.
Wesley Britt served as captain of the college football team before their marriage in 2008. He spent four years as a tackle for the New England Patriots before being released in 2009.
Family Life and Career Development
Following Wesley's NFL career, the couple established their life in Alabama. Britt attended law school at the University of Alabama while her husband pursued an MBA. They have two children: daughter Bennett, born in 2009, and son Ridgeway, born in 2010.
Wesley Britt now works as a lobbyist and helps manage his wife's political campaigns, creating additional scrutiny around their financial arrangements and potential conflicts of interest.
National Spotlight and Recent Controversies
Britt gained national attention when she was selected to deliver the Republican response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in 2024. Her performance became the subject of widespread commentary, including a Saturday Night Live skit where actress Scarlett Johansson portrayed her in a mocking segment.
The politician returned to headlines recently when a liberal influencer criticized her for not smiling during a television segment discussing children committing suicide, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny of her public persona.
This latest financial disclosure issue adds to the ethical questions surrounding the senator's conduct and highlights the ongoing challenges of financial transparency in political office.
