Moore also appears to have profited from his flurry of purchases after he quickly sold his stock shares off as financial markets swung wildly during April.
Moore’s congressional office acknowledged a phone call and email from Fortune seeking comment but did not immediately respond to questions. Following publication of this story, Moore emailed Fortune a statement about the “technical delays” of his stock disclosures.
“These trades were disclosed within the 30-day grace period for technical delays recognized by the House Ethics Committee,” Moore wrote. “They were submitted in good faith and in accordance with the STOCK Act — no late fee was assessed, nor was one required.”
He did not otherwise address questions about the trades themselves, their timing, or why they were disclosed after the federal deadline.
In his capacity as vice chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation, Moore’s congressional office said he would “help lead critical efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in financial regulations and federal spending.”
Although Moore, like all members of Congress, may legally buy and sell stock, “the timing of Congressman Moore’s stock trades certainly looks and smells bad,” said Aaron Scherb, senior director of legislative affairs for Common Cause, a nonprofit government watchdog group.
As for Moore’s seemingly tardy stock-trade disclosures from April, first-time offenders are subject to a $200 late-filing fine administered by the House Committee on Ethics. The committee generally waives this fine for any trades that are less than a month past the federal deadline.
Repeat or willful STOCK Act disclosure offenders can face steeper penalties or even a criminal investigation, although such actions are rare.
“Even though Congressman Moore appears to have missed the deadline for reporting these stock trades, the penalties are just a slap on the wrist, which leads to many members just ignoring the law,” Scherb said.
